This novel opens with a discussion of the power of words and language. Did this help capture your attention as a reader? Why or why not? Knowing what we know about Melody so far, why do you think Sharon Draper used this as her hook to begin the story?
If you were the author, would you change anything in the opening? If so, what would you change? Be specific!
Re-read your comment before you post to make sure your thinking is clear.
Like the question states, this novel does indeed open with the discussion of the power of words and language. As I read the opening or the beginning I realize that it did help to capture my attention. In the many books that I have read, this is the only book that has or at least I recall opening with such a strong meaning to it. When the book begins it starts off saying, " I'm surrounded by thousands of words. Maybe millions." For me as a reader I want want to find out what that and the words that follow mean and affect her and her life. The more the book continues the more interested I become in what will happen next, that all started because i took the bate and got hooked on what the next page would say.
ReplyDeleteAuthors have many reasons for making something their hook, for including that person in the hook or detail. I think that Sharon Draper used the words and meanings for her hook because she wanted us readers to stop and think. And when I say think I mean really think, think about the words we use the words we say. I am guilty of learning a word and then forgetting it the next day. I think she wanted us to learn that we shouldn't take our words that we are able to speak for granted, and I know that most people just like me are guilty of doing that. Knowing as much about Melody that I can from these chapters as I do, I can tell you that Sharon Draper did not just put those words out there because it was not going to have any meaning at all in the novel.
" Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes-" Melody was the one who had those words float around her and that had us thinking why?
If I was the author would I do anything different in the opening. My answer would be no. Why? I don't think that I could make that opening better because it has accomplished what every author wants their reader to think and that one word is ………… WHY! ( dun dun dunnnnnnn)