Katie+Keating.+Wiki1.+Water+for+Elephants

Hill. **ISBN-13:** 978-1-56512-560-5
 * __APA Citation__**: Gruen, S. (2006). //Water for Elephants//. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books of Chapel


 * __Award:__** //Water for Elephants// won the Alex Award in 2007.

__**Summary**//://__ //Water for Elephants// is the story of an orphaned, college-dropout, Jacob Jankowski set in the United States in the 1930’s. After the death of his beloved parents, Jacob runs from home and all he knows and jumps a train bound for anywhere. As it happens, Jacob boards a Circus Train, and quickly meets August, the animal trainer. When August discovers that Jacob had virtually earned an Ivy-League Veterinary degree, he makes Jacob in charge of caring for the circus’ animals. Jacob quickly notices that not only is August abusive to the animals onboard the Circus train, but also to his beautiful and talented wife, Marlena. Jacob and Marlena fall in love. The story becomes not only a story of survival of the circus animals, specifically a performance elephant named Rosie, under the cruel care of August, but also a story of love between two people who overcome implausible obstacles to be with one another.


 * __Critique__**: As an adult, I loved this novel. I was captivated by the setting, the circus life, and the enchanting love story between Jacob and Marlena. I am an animal-lover, so at times it was difficult to read about the abusive August toward Rosie and the other animals, but good prevails evil in this novel as both Marlena and Rosie get back at August in the end. However, to be quite honest, I cannot imagine using this book in a young-adult classroom setting. There are several sexual scenes and foul language throughout the text that I found only suitable for adults. In my experience, parents do not approve of teachers assigning books with these types of scenes. Therefore, my criticism is not one of the novel itself, but of the possibility of using it in a middle/high school classroom.

Reading Standards for Literature, Grades 6-12 (Grade 8: Key Ideas and Details) //3. Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of character, or provoke a decision.//
 * __Curriculum Connection__:**


 * __Genre__**: Fiction


 * __Classroom Activity using Developing Content Area Literacy:__**

Strategy 14: Conflict Dissection- Analyzing Relationships in Text (p.103-107) The purpose of the Conflict Dissection strategy is to help adolescent readers identify plot elements of conflict and resolution. This strategy will help students to identify character motivation and character relationships.

//Someone: main character or main group of characters// //Wanted/Because: motivation of main character or main group of characters// //But: conflict or problem// //So: resolution or solution of the conflict/problem//
 * __Before Reading__: Class will discuss Conflict and the major forms of conflict found in literature. Students will brainstorm using the title and cover of the novel about what types of conflict might be found in the novel. Students will be responsible for using the graphic organizer “Conflict Dissection Strategy Chart” (found on page 104 of the text) to guide their reading of //Water for Elephants//. The teacher will define and discuss each of the categories on the graphic organizer.

(Graphic Organizer- Figure 14.1 on page 104)
 * __During Reading:__ Students will begin engaging with and reading the novel, //Water with Elephants//. Each student (or a group of students) will be assigned a different chapter in which they will analyze the present conflict and complete the graphic organizer, “Conflict Dissection Strategy Chart.”


 * __After Reading:__ After reading the novel, the teacher will lead a class discussion over conflict present in the novel. Each student (or group of students) will defend their input regarding conflict and conflict resolution in the text. Students will write a summary based on the information they compiled in the graphic organizer.