I just finished reading The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. I thought Aminata Diallo was one of the best characters I’ve come across in fiction; totally believable in every way. The book raises a lot of professional questions for me.
1. What are some resources for examining character development?
2. What are some ways of teaching novels with so many historical references?
3. How realistic would it be to tie this in with a unit the history teacher is doing?
4. How do I best help students tackle a novel of this length?
Some possible ‘big’ questions for students to tackle would be…
1. What does it mean to persevere?
2. What motivates you?
3. How do racial issues impact relationships?
4. How do you control your emotions?
5. How can people honor their heritage?
From the Far East to Down East 