Year of the Hangman
BOOK BLOG
November 2014
November 2014
Gary Blackwood
Gary
L. Blackwood started his writing career as a teen, and has since
become a prolific author of novels for both young adults and
middle-grade readers, in addition to penning plays and nonfiction.
Popular particularly with boys due to their western and history themes,
Blackwood's books include the alternate Revolutionary War history The Year of the Hangman,
the nonfiction "Bad Guys" series, and his series of adventure novels
centering around Elizabethan playwright William Shakespeare and
featuring an orphaned teen named Widge.Read more: Gary L. Blackwood (1945–) Biography - Personal, Career, Honors Awards, Writings, Sidelights - Shakespeare, Review, York, and Book - JRank Articles http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2185/Blackwood-Gary-L-1945.html#ixzz2OBDq8Kp1
Welcome to Week One - November 18-December 2
Welcome to week one of The Year of the Hangman book blog. During the week of November 18-December 2, we will be reading and commenting on the first five chapters of the novel - pages 1 - 65.
- Choose 1 of the 4 questions listed below as your blog post this week.
- Identify which question you are responding to in your post by restating the question.
- Comment/ reply on at least two other posts throughout the week.
Instructions for Posting to the Blog
(Refer to the guidelines in last week's blog post)
Each
week, during the four week time period, I will post “outside of the box”
questions based on the assigned chapters. Each participant will
respond to the blog questions of the week, by choosing 1 of the 4
questions. You are welcome to post as many comments as possible using
the digital citizenship guidelines outlined below. My hope is to
create an online conversation about this novel.
Week 1 - Question #1
This novel deals with alternate history. Think about other major events in history and what might have happened if they turned out differently. Provide an example of one historical event and then explain how our world might have been altered if the event had been altered. Cite specific event details based on evidence from other sources.
Week 1 - Question #2
Creighton had been kicked out of a couple schools for his behavior and was often having to start over at new schools. Think about a time when you had to start at a new school - maybe because you moved or maybe when you began at the next level of school (from grade school to middle school for example). What was the one thing that scared you the most about having to start at a new school? Why? Cite specific examples in your explanation.
Week 1 - Question #3
When it is clear that he will be captured aboard his ship, Creighton's uncle quickly tries to burn all the important papers so they don't fall in the hands of the Americans. He burns almost all of the documents but not all of them. If you were in this situation on the ship, what would you have done to destroy the evidence? Why? Support your position with evidence from the novel and/or evidence from other resources.
Week 1 - Question #4
Creighton often describes America in a negative way - as a wilderness and a land without formal traditions and customs. Why do you think someone from England might think this about America at this time period? Support your position with evidence from the novel.
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