3. Describe themes in the novel and trace their development throughout the text.

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Oswin Patterson
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1 Road Trip! Have you ever taken a road trip? Was it a short trip to a fairly close destination or a long trip that ventured across several states and took several days? In Walk Two Moons, teenager Salamanca Tree Hiddle goes on a road trip from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents. Along the way, Sal learns about family, friendship, and love. Be a Better Reader As you work through the study guide for Walk Two Moons, you ll also practice these skills, which will help you when you read novels in the future, for school assignments or just for fun. 1. Describe the development of the main character. 2. Discuss how the plot develops throughout the novel. 3. Describe themes in the novel and trace their development throughout the text. 4. Cite textual evidence to support discussion of the novel. 5. Discuss how point of view affects the content of the novel. Behind the Scenes Author Sharon Creech hails from Ohio and has risen to become one of America s most wellknown writers of young adult fiction. Growing up in an active family, Creech has drawn on many of her childhood experiences for her novels. Absolutely Normal Chaos resembles Creech s own childhood family, while Walk Two Moons recreates a road trip from Ohio to Idaho that Creech and her own family took when she was twelve years old. Creech s childhood visits to cousins in Kentucky appear in her books Chasing Redbird and Bloomability. Before becoming a writer, Sharon Creech taught high school English and writing. Walk Two Moons was awarded the 1995 Newbery Medal. Get This! 1. As you read, think about what the novel s title, Walk Two Moons, means and how it figures into Sal s life. 2. Walk Two Moons possesses numerous symbols. Be sure to notice and try to figure out the symbolism of the blackberries, the singing tree, and hair. 3. Walk Two Moons is characterized as a coming-of-age novel, as well as being a quest. As you read, think about how Sal s personal journey acts as a type of quest, one that helps her mature and grow up.

2 The Plot Walk Two Moons traces Salamanca Tree Hiddle s road trip with her grandparents from Ohio to Idaho and the lessons she learns along the way. As you read the novel, fill in the boxes for each element of the novel s plot.

3 The Protagonist Every story happens to someone... Walk Two Moons recounts Salamanca Tree Hiddle s road trip and how she comes to grips with her mother s death. Use the spaces below to describe Sal. In the first column, type or write direct quotes from the novel phrases and sentences that are used to tell about Sal as a character. In the second column, explain in your own words what the author is trying to convey. An example has been completed for you. Direct Quote Related to Salamanca Gramps says that I am a country girl at heart... and stopped in front of a house in Euclid, Ohio. (Chapter 1) Your Explanation Sal has lived most of her life in Kentucky, but now lives in Ohio.

4 The Setting The setting of Sharon Creech s Walk Two Moons shows the beauty of America as seen through Sal and her grandparents road trip from Ohio to Idaho. Use the spaces below to describe some of the settings in the novel. In the first column, type or write direct quotes from the book phrases and sentences that are used to show what the setting is like in each location. In the second column, explain in your own words the scene and what can be inferred from the description. An example has been completed for you. Location in Text Direct Quotation from Text Scene Conveyed No trees? I said... The river? The swimming hole? 1. Sal s new home in Euclid, Ohio (Ch. 1) 2. Sal and her grandparents arrive in Illinois (Ch. 7) Sal s new home in a neighborhood in Euclid, Ohio, differs greatly from the farm she lived on in Bybanks, Kentucky. 3. Sal and her grandparents dip their toes in the Missouri River in South Dakota. (Ch. 15) 4. Sal and her grandparents see Old Faithful. (Ch. 34) 5. Sal drives from Coeur d Alene to Lewiston. (Ch. 41)

5 Tracking Themes What message is Sharon Creech trying to communicate in Walk Two Moons? The main themes in Walk Two Moons are related to the role of stories in one s life and the intersection of past and present. See if you can identify and analyze those themes. Step 1: What parts of the plot seem related to a possible theme in the novel? (Think about the main conflict and how it gets resolved or worked out.) Step 2: Which characters seem related to a possible theme? Which characters change, and what do those changes suggest about the role of stories in one s life and the intersection of past and present? Step 3: How does the author use symbols to hint at the novel s themes? What objects, people, or places stand for something bigger in the story? Step 4: What does the novel s title suggest about the novel s theme? Step 5: Write one or two of the novel s main themes in your own words.

6 Talk About It What do you think about Walk Two Moons? Could you identify with Salamanca as she told her family s story? How do you see Sal grow up and mature throughout the novel? In the space below each question, write an answer based on your own experiences and your own understanding of the novel. Include some textual evidence or examples that helped you arrive at your answer. 1. Walk Two Moons is told from the point of view of Salamanca Tree Hiddle. How do you think the novel would differ if it was told from the point of view of her grandmother or grandfather? Textual Evidence or Examples: 2. Walk Two Moons is considered a coming-of-age novel, one in which Sal matures and learns about herself throughout her journey. How does Sal s journey help her grow up and change her life? Textual Evidence or Examples:

7 Represent! Show what you know about Walk Two Moons and its relevance to your life. Choose one of these projects to complete and share with your teacher, classmates, and others. Choice 1: Walk Two Moons as a Quest In addition to being a coming-of-age novel, Walk Two Moons chronicles Salamanca s personal quest as seen through her journey across the country. Salamanca Tree Hiddle is not the first literary character to enjoy a quest. Think of other films, plays, short stories, or novels that send its main character on a quest. Create a PowerPoint presentation that illustrates some of these characters and their quests. In your presentation, include maps and objects that symbolize each character s quest. Be prepared to explain why you selected each character, as well as how his/her quest affected him. Choice 2: Salamanca Herself The novel centers on Salamanca Tree Hiddle s personal growth as seen through her road trip and family relationships. While Sal shares a lot with the reader, perhaps she does not tell the reader everything she is thinking. Create and perform a speech as Salamanca to try to gain more insight into her as a character. Be sure to write your speech in the form of a play.

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