Unsworth The Girl Who Thought Teachers' Notes

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Readers’/Teachers’Notes

TheGirlWhoThoughtHerMotherWasaMermaid

ByTaniaUnsworth,IllustratedbyHelenCrawford-White

Publicationdate:July2018

Fiction/Children’s9+•£10.99

HB:9781788541671•E:9781788541664

WritingStyle

TitleDiscuss:Whatdoesthetitletellyouaboutthekindofbookthiswillbe?Doesthetitleimplydoubtinthegirl’sbelief?Lookattheartworkonthecover.Doyoulikeit?Why?Whichgenreisthebook?Haveyouheardoftheterm‘magicalrealism’?Doesthisbookfitintothatgenre?

Opening‘ThefirsttimeStellaMartinranaway,itwasinhersleep.Thesecondwasbyaccident.Butthethirdtimeshediditonpurpose,tofindoutwhethershewashumanornot.’Page1Discuss:Whatdoyouthinkoftheopeningofthebook?Whatdoestheauthormeanby‘Thesecondwasbyaccident’?Canyourunawaybyaccident?Thinkaboutthephrase‘tofindoutwhethershewashumanornot?’Whatdoesitmeantobehuman?Readthefirstchapter.Discuss:WhydoesTaniaUnsworthstartthestorywithStella’sdreamofdrowning?

WaterwordsTaniaUnsworthuseslotsofwaterwordswithinthestory.Lookagainatthefirstchapterandsee

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howsheuseswordslinkedtowatertodescribethings:themarbleaslookinglikeliquid,thegrasswetfromthesprinklers,theswimmingpool,andStella’sfathersunkinhistranceofsorrow.Discuss:Whydoesshedothis?Doesitcontinuethroughoutthenovel?Activity:Chooseonechapterandseehowmanytimeswordsconnectedwithwaterareused.Whenaretheyusedtodescribewater,andwhenaretheyusedasmetaphor?Lookatthefollowingsentencestohelpyou:

‘Stella’sdad…sunkinhistranceofsorrow,’page2

‘nothingbuttheoccasionalwatertowertocastashadow.’Page6

‘Stellahasatendencytodrift’page15.

‘Stellawascaughtbyawaveofgriefandlonging.’Page42

SoundsAllwritersusethesensestodeveloptheirdescriptionsandenhancethereaders’empathywiththecharacters.Thisiscalleddynamicdescription.ButinTheGirlWhoThoughtHerMotherWasaMermaid,thereisaparticularemphasisonsounds,orlackofsound.ThinkaboutepisodesinthebookinwhichnoisehelpsStella,orinwhichshehastostayquiet.

‘Themomentshetouchedthehandle–whichhadalwaysbeenslightlyloose–itrattledandwokeher.Onenight,though,thedoorwasleftajarandtherewasnothingtostopherpassingthroughintothesilent,carpetedcorridorbeyond.’Page1‘HernamewasDeb,anditwasherchatteringthatwastoblameonthedaythatStellaranawaybyaccident.’Page14‘Theyclatteredacrossthebackofthevan,andStellaheardthemthumpdownintothestreet,theirfootstepsfading.’Page67

Whatdoesnoiseindicate?Doesitindicatethingsbeingoutintheopen,whereassilenceindicatessecrecy?Aresomeplacessupposedtobenoisyorquiet?Alibraryforexample.Why?ThinkaboutwhichnoisesStellahearsfromthebackoftheremovalvan,andwhencrouchinginthecupboardandtryingtoescapeinChapter34.Discuss:Whendoyouhavequietmomentsinyourday?Isthereeversilence?Whenisthis?Whenisthenoisiestpartofyourday?Activity:Makeasounddiaryofyourday.Whatarethefirstsoundsyouhear?Birds,analarmclock,people?Canyouseparatethesoundsintonaturalandartificial?Makeasoundmapofyourhome:eachroommayhaveitsownsound–thetickingofaclock,aradionormallyon,awashingmachineetc.Canyouwriteadynamicdescription–pickasceneandtrytodescribewhatallthesensesareexperiencing.Tryandbaseitonwater–swimmingoronaferryforexample.Theauthoralsoplaysonwhathappenstosoundinwater.

‘Butit’ssoquietunderwater;youwonderwherethesoundwent.’Page40Grammathinksthatunderwaterisquiet,whereasPearlthinksthatsoundsareclearerunderwater.‘Soundsweremuffled,’shesays,onpage141.

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Activity:Conductascienceexperimenttoseewhethersoundsarequieterorlouderunderwater.Clinktwometallicpiecesofcutlerytogetherintheair.Makeanoteofwhatitsoundslike.Now,submergethecutleryinabucketofwater.Takealargeplasticbottleandcutoffthebottom.Listenthroughthebottletothesoundofthecutleryclinkingunderwater.Isitlouderthaninair?Itshouldbe–soundwavestravelfasterthroughwater.

Unsworthusessoundtosuggestthemagicalrealismelementsofthesea:

‘Shecouldhearthesteadypulseofthesurfasitbeatagainsttheshore,andthelong,mutteringintakeofitsbreathasitdrewbackagain.’Page70Discuss:HowdoesUnsworthmaketheseaitselflikeacharacter?

‘Howstrangethewaterfeltagainstherskin.Nowthatshehadbecomeusedtothecold,shewasawareofanothersensation,gentle,yetoddlyurgent.Shecockedherhead,listening.Itwaslikevoicesinafar-offroom,shethought,oraswarmofinsectshalfafieldaway.Somethingthatyousensedwasthere,althoughyoucouldn’tquitehearit.Afeelingratherthanasound.’Page71

Discuss:Howelsecouldawritermaketheoceanseemmagical?Activity:Writeaparagraphabouttheocean,givingitmagicinsomeway.Howhaveyoudonethis?Whichwordsdidyouuse?

Stella’smum’snecklaceis‘thewordofthesea’,itturnsoutitkeepsStellasafeinthewater.ThinkabouthowelseithelpsStella–itgivesreassurance,giveshercourage.Atthebeginningofthebook:‘Shestoodinthemiddleoftheplayground,andkidsjostledandracedaroundherasifshewasinvisible.’Page12Discuss:IsStellainvisiblebytheendofthestory?Howdoesshemakeherselfseenandheardbytheendofthebook?InTheLittleMermaidbyHansChristianAndersen,themermaidsacrificeshervoicesothatshecangainlegsandsurviveonland.Discuss:Howimportantisthevoice?Howcanyoumakeyourselfheardwithoutavoice?Whatelsedowemeanby‘havingavoice’?

Characters

Stella

‘Itwasasifshedidn’tnotice–orseetheneed–ofrowsandborders,andseparateplacesforthings.’Page7“’Themugsinthekitchenweremadetolineup…’Page8

‘passingtheidenticalhouseswiththeirneatfrontgardensandtidydriveways.’Page26Discuss:Stellaispreoccupiedwiththingsbeingboringandorderly,andseekschangeanddisarray–likehermother.Whydoyouthinkthisis?Activity:Takeanoteofthingsyouseeonyourwaytoschooloverseveralweeks.Arethingsneatandorderly,orisyourlocalenvironmentmorehiggledy-piggledy?Whydoyouthinktownsand

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housesareoftenarrangedinsomekindoforderorgrids?Doesyourviewchangeovertime?Makeanoteofwhatchangestakeplaceovertheweeks.

‘Whatastrangegirlyouare!’MrsChapmansaystoStella.Page4

‘“DoyouthinkI’mstrange,Gramma?”sheaskedoneday.Grammasmiled.“Isn’teveryone?”’Page23

‘Inmyopinion,themoreyouknowaperson,thestrangertheybecome.’Page24

‘You’renotthesame,same,same,’shesaid.‘You’reweird.’Page33

‘“Youreallyareweird,”“IknowIam,”Stellasaid.ItwaswhatshealwayssaidwhenCamtoldhershewasweird,whichwasquiteoften.Ithadbecometheirprivatejoke.’Page35‘Camhadbeenrighttolaughather,shethought.Onlyachildoffivewouldwonderwhetherhermumhadbeenamermaidornot.Andeventhen,thechildoffivewouldhavetobeprettystupid.Thesortofchild,Stellatoldherself,whocausedpeopletoshaketheirheadsandwhisperbehindtheirhands.’Page58Stellaisveryconcernedaboutwhatotherpeoplethink,andisupsetthatCamlaughsatStellaforherbeliefs.

‘Herlovelymumhadbeenaregular,normalhumanbeing.AndStellawasn’tstrange,ordifferentinanyway.’Page93

‘“It’snottrue,”shewhispered.“Ican’tchangeintoanything.I’mnormal.”’Page164

‘Ahundredtimeswilder,andahundredtimesmorealienthananymermaideverdreamedof.’Page191

‘Human.Normal.Purereliefwelledupinher,andhandinhandwiththerelief,aquietyetterriblesadness.’Page216

Discuss:Whatdothecharactersmeanbybeing‘strange’or‘weird’?What’sthedifferencebetween‘weird-weird’and‘weird-interesting’,asCamsaysonpage33.WhatotherwordscouldStellausetodescribeherselfotherthan‘strange’or‘weird’?Arethesederogatorywords?Issheanomalous?Whatdoesitmeantobe‘normal’orregular’or‘alien’?WhydoesStellafeelreliefandsadnessattherealisationthatsheis‘normal’?Activity:Thinkaboutthethingsyoubelievein–writethemdownasalist.Writedownexamplesofthingsyoulikeordislike.Nowswaplistswithapartner/classmate.Tickitemsonthelistthatyouagreewith.Dothedifferencesmeanthatyouare‘strange?’Thinkaboutwaysinwhichyoucouldcelebratethediversityaroundyou–thedifferentbeliefs,customs,likesanddislikes.Createaprofileofyourpartner-youcoulddothisasaform,orcreatinganavatarsuchasaWeemee.Whatdotheylooklike?Whatwouldtheyhaveintheirhands/accessories/background?Whatwouldtheyputintheirspeechbubble?

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‘theonlylifeworthlivingistheoneyouliveasyourself’Pearlwritestoherinherletter,page236Discuss:WhatdoesPearlmeanbythis?

‘Inthesplitsecondbeforeshejumped…arealisationshotthroughStella’smindwiththeforceandclarityofuttertruth.Itwasthatherentirelife,onewayoranother,shehadbeenrunningawayfromthismoment.Andyet,withoutknowing,shehadbeenrunningstraighttowardsitallalong.’Page210Discuss:IsStellarunningawayorrunningtowardssomething?Isthereadifference?Activity:LookatStella’snotetoherfatheronpage62.ThinkabouttheeffectthenoteandStellabeingmissingishavingonherfather.Writedownalistofemotionshemightbefeeling.Nowwriteanotetoherfather,tryingtounderstandhowhemightbefeeling.Whatextrainformationhaveyougiven?WriteapostcardhomefromStellafromLastlandIsland.ImagineyouarethepolicelookingforStella.DrawupaMissingPersonsposter.HowmuchdetailcanyouputinaboutStella’scharacterfromwhatyou’veread?WhenStellarunsaway,shehasafrighteningexperienceinthebackoftheremovalvan.Tryandwriteapoemaboutheremotionsduringthistime.

Cam‘Herclothesweredifferent,andherheight,andeventhecolourofherskin.’Page30

‘“Idon’tknowwhywebotherlookingoutofthewindow,”shesaid.“What’sthepoint?Everything’sthesame.Same,same,same.It’slikewatchingpaintdry.”’Page32Discuss:WhydoyouthinkStellafindsherselfdrawntoCam?WhatisherinitialimpressionofCam?Dofirstimpressionscount?Shouldthey?ComparehowsheviewsCamastohowsheviewsherself.

‘Camlikedtobedramaticandfunnyandinteresting.’Page48

‘Camexaggeratedeverything,Stellathought,youcouldn’trelyonawordshesaid.’Page54

‘“Ifmeandthatsofawereabouttofalloffacliff,mymumwouldsavethesofa,”Camhadsaid.“It’sthetruth,swearonmylife.”’Page61

‘Evenasleep,Camcouldn’thelpbeingdramatic,Stellathought.’Page203

Discuss:Whyistheword‘interesting’italicisedinthefirstquote?ThinkabouthowCamusesexaggeration.Whendoyouuseexaggeration?Isitdifferentfordifferentpurposes:Totellastory,tomakeapoint,usepersuasivelanguage,tomakeanargument,forhumorouseffect?LookatthedifferenttimesCamusesexaggeration,andwhentheyareeffective.Seepage200forwhenCam‘exaggerates’theirwayontotheferry.Isthereadangertoexaggeratingthings?Whendoesexaggerationbecomealie?Activity:Findatellingofthefablecalled‘TheBoyWhoCriedWolf’.Youcouldusethisaudio:http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/english/aesops_fables/33-40/boy_who_cried_wolfWhatisthemoralofthisstory?DoyouthinkitappliestoCam?OrdoesCamuseexaggerationina

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/subjects/english/aesops_fables/33-40/boy_who_cried_wolf

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differentway.Nowcontrastitwiththepicturebook‘OntheWayHome’byJillMurphy.Isthisadifferenttypeofexaggeration?

Gramma

‘Themoreshelost,themorethekindnessshowed,likearockonthebeachwhenthetidewasgoingout.’Page52

Stellawantstoseepicturesofhermother:‘ItwouldmakehermumfeelrealtoStellaagain,stillalive,ifonlyinmemory.’Page98

‘Grammawasalwaysright,Stellathought.Onewayoranother.’Page162

Discuss:TaniaUnsworthmakesGrammaagroundinginfluenceinthestory,despiteherdementia.Whyisthis?IsGrammatheonlyadultuponwhomStellacanrely?Activity:Stellafindsoutabouthermotherthroughhergrandmother’smemoriesofthepast.Conductaninterviewwithanelderlymemberofyourownfamilyandseewhatmemoriestheyhaveofyourparentsorrelativesthatyoumightnotbeawareof.Sharetheminclass.Hasanyonefoundoutanythingsurprisingordifferentabouttheirparents?

Dad‘Griefornogrief,adadoughttospendmoretimeathome…’page18.

‘Stellahadn’tthoughtaboutherdadduringthelonghoursintheremovalvan.Yetunderneath,she’dknownthatMrsChapmanwouldhavecalledhimtheinstantshefoundStellamissing,andthathewouldhavecomehomeatonce,upset,maybeevenfrantic.’Page78

‘Hedoesn’talwaysknowtherightthingtosay,youknow,Grammahadoncetoldher.Buthehasaverygoodheart.Grammaneverknewwhatshewastalkingabout,Stellathought.Yetsomehow,shewasalways,alwaysright.’Page227–8

Discuss:DoyouthinkStella’sDadisagoodfather?Whatmakesagoodfather?Stella’sfatherisoneoftheonlymenmentionedinthenovel.Didyounoticethis?Whydoyouthinktheauthorhasmadeallthecharactersfemale?Ifonewasmale–agrandfatherinsteadofagrandmother,orMarciebeingamanratherthanawoman–wouldithavemadeadifferencetothestory?Thinkaboutthegenderdecisionsanauthormustmakeinwritingtheirnovel.

MarcieandPearl

Rereadchapters18and19.Discuss:HowdoesUnsworthbuildtensiontorevealthatMarcieisthevillainofthestory?Pickoutquotesasevidence.Lookattheuseoflightanddarkaswellasthedialogue.

‘Herskinlackedcolour,andherhairwasthinandwispy.Evenhershabbydress,fadedtoagreenishmemory,lookedwashedout.Asifshehadbeenpaintedentirelyinwatercolours.’Page97

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Discuss:WhatisStella’sfirstimpressionofPearl?Howdoesitchangewhensheseesherupclose?HowhastheauthorportrayedPearl’sweakness?

‘Atfirstglance,thestonelookedlikeanordinarypebble.Butitwasmarbledwithfinegreenveins,andwhenitcaughtthelightintherightway,itgleamedwithadarkfire,richerthanvelvet.’Page10Discuss:InwhatwayisthestonelikePearl,orStella’smother?Whatturnssomethingordinaryintosomethingspecial?Thinkaboutthefirstimpressionsinthebook.Activity:CanyouwritethesceneinwhichStellameetsPearlforthefirsttimefromPearl’spointofview?WhatemotionsdoesshefeeluponseeingAquabelle’sdaughter?

Discuss:Nowlookatchapters27to31.TaniaUnsworthswitchespointofviewtoPearltellingherstory.Whydoesshedothis?DoesthecharacterofMarciebecomemoresinisterasPearltellsthestory?How?LookathowMarcieseesPearlandAquabelle,andhowsheactscruelly.DoesthisshowMarcie’sstrengthorPearl’sweakness?WhatareMarcie’sbootsasymbolof?

Themes

Mermaids

Stella’sMumusedtoswim‘Asifshewasmadeofwateritself.’Page3.Herhair‘glitteredattheedgeslikeared-goldcrown’page3and“shonelikepolishedcopper”page10.Shewas‘toobeautifulforthisworld.’Page22Comparethiswiththedescriptionofmermaidsonpage21:‘Accordingtolegend,mermaidscouldbringonstormsandtellthefuture,sheread.Someweresirens,luringsailorstotheirdoom;othershadmysterioushealingpowers.Allwerebeautiful,withflowinghairandgracefulfeatures.Theylikednothingbetterthantoperchonrocks,admiringtheirreflections,ortoglidethroughtheirunderwaterkingdoms,strewnwithjewelsandtreasure—‘DiscussandActivity:Thinkaboutyourstereotypicalideaofamermaid.Canyoudrawit?Whydomermaidsholdsuchfascinationforwriters?Howaremermaidsviewedindifferentcultures?DosomeresearchandpresentyourfindingsinaPowerPoint.Compareideasofmermaidsasbeinginconsistent/vulnerable/protectors.Now,lookupthestoryofTheLittleMermaidbyHansChristianAnderson.Whydoyouthinkitissopopular?CanyoufindapictureofthestatueofTheLittleMermaidinCopenhagen?Howdoesthiscomparetothedrawingyouhavedone?

‘“Iusedtothinkmymumwasamermaid…”shesaid.“Agesandagesago,”sheaddedhastily.Camshrugged.“Iusedtothinkmymumwasawitch.AndIstilldo.”’Page36

‘Awaywiththefairies,poorlittlething,suchaterribleshame.’Page58

Discuss:Howdoideasofmythicalcreaturescomeintoourlanguageandstories?Whydowehaveimagesofthesecreatures?Activity:Mermaidsarehybrids–halfhumanhalffish.Canyoucreateyourownmythicalhybrid?Whatassetswouldithave,whatkindofbodyandabilities?Canyouuseyourdescriptivelanguagetowriteabouttheunderwaterlifeofamermaid?Howwould

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theylive?Whatdangersmighttheyencounter?Usingashoebox,makeanunderwaterdiorama–thinkaboutwhichcraftmaterialscouldrepresentwater,andalltheelementswithin.WillyoursbeDeepOceanoracoralreef?Explorethepossibilities.

Onlywhenmermaidsbecomenameless,dotheytakeonnon-stereotypicalelement:

‘“There’snosuchthing,ifyoumeanthosecreatureswhositonrocksandcombtheirhairallday,”Pearlsaid,withahintofscorn.“Theoneswithprettytails,whosingtoships,orchangeintoseals,orluresailorstotheirdoomwithnoapparentreason.There’snosuchthingasthem.”“What,then?”“Imaginewhatyouwouldneedtoliveinthedeepest,wildestocean,”Pearlsaid.“Theeel’swhipandthelimpet’scling,thestrengthandsleeplesseyesofthegreatwhiteshark,theliquidshiverofthesquid…likethat.”’Page123

‘“We’renotcalledanything.Wedon’tneedlanguageinthewayyouthinkofit.Namesarenousetous.Wearejust…ofthesea.”’Page137PearlexplainstoStella.

‘Nowsheknewthatsomewhere,deepbelowthosewaves,therewerenamelessbeings,beyondtheneedforwordsorlanguage.Theyhadalwaysbeenthere,tooswifttobecaught,toocunningtobetrapped,eachcellintheirbodiesabletothink,andfeel,andunderstand.’Page203

Discuss:Ifsomethingisgivenanameoralabel,isittooeasytoattributeastereotypetoit?Thinkaboutcommonoccupations,suchasfootballer,farmerorteacher.Doesastereotypeimagecometomind?Thesestereotypesdon’tmatter,andcanbehelpful,aslongastheydonotaffectourattitudetowardsindividuals.Activity:Createaroleplaysituationinsmallgroupsandexaminestereotypesandprejudices.Invitea‘stereotype’toapartyandseewhatpeople’sreactionsare.Thendiscusswhethertheseattitudesareprejudiced.

Friendship‘therewererulestomakingfriends.’Page12Discuss:WhatdoesStellameanbythis?Activity:Makeachartoffriendshiprules.Nowlookthroughthebook.WhendoStellaandCamadheretoyourrulesandwhendotheybreakthem?

StellaandCam’sfriendshipiskeytothestory.Thinkaboutyourownfriendships.Activity:FinishthefollowingsentencesasifyouwereStellawritingaboutCam.Nowdothesameasyourself:IliketohaveafriendbecauseImakeupwithafriendbyHavingafriendmakesmefeel

Body/DetachmentofmindandbodyTherearemanyinstancesinthenovel,inwhichitfeelsasifaperson’sbodydoesn’tfittheirmind,andviceversa.Havealookatthefollowing:‘Asifhermindwassofarawaythatherbodyhadsimplybeenleftbehind.’Page9

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‘Stella’smumhadhadextremelylargefeetforherheight.Theylooked,Stellaoftenthought,asiftheydidn’tquitebelongtoher.’Page24

‘Grammalookeddifferent,taller,andyetsomehowfurtheraway.’Page55

‘Sheleanedovertherailingandsawherownshadow,racingalongonthesurfaceofthewater.Stellaknewitwashers;itliftedanarmwhenshedid,andshecouldseethetinyshapeofhernecklacedanglingclear.Butitlookeddifferent,thinner,almostsinuous.Andthepurposefulwayitwasmovingwasevenmoreodd.Asifitwasn’tashadow,butsomethingseparateandalive.’Page81–2

‘herhairfloatingaroundherlikeaseparate,livingthing.’Page133Stella’smotherseemsseparatefromherbody.‘Onthescreen,hermum’sbodyglowedandshifted.’Page134

‘Ididn’tlikethewayIfeltinmynewskin.Theflatthudofmyfeet,thedullnessofmysenses…EvenworseI’dlostconnectiontomostofmybody.Myheartwasbeating,bloodranthroughmyveinsandnervesfiredmymuscles,butIcouldn’tcontrolanyofit…Itwaslikeexistinginsideamachine.’Page141Discuss:Howwoulditfeeltohaveamermaidbody?Activity:Lookathowfishbreatheunderwater–makeapostertoshowthedifferencesbetweenhumanandfishrespiration.Pearlisinawheelchair,buthermindrememberswhatitfeelsliketowalk,butalsotobe‘ofthesea’.Discuss:WhydoyouthinktheauthorhasplacedPearlinawheelchair?Doyouthinksheisaskingthereadertofeelempathyforthosewhocannotusetheirbodyhowtheywishto?

‘Wecanthinkandfeelwithourentirebodies.’Page141Activity:Thinkaboutthewaysinwhichyourbodyreactstoemotionsandthoughts,especiallythefivesenses.Ifyoufeelembarrassed,wheredoyoufeelsensationinyourbody?Howaboutfeelingcold?Drawaself-portraitandlabelthepartsofthebodywhereyoufeelandthinkthings.Eg.Youmightpointtothestomachwhenyoufeelnervous.

SeenandUnseen/SecretsandLies‘Stellahadrunawayfromhomebecauseshethoughthermummighthavebeenamermaid.Sometimesit’seasytobelievesomething-howeverunlikely-whenitisjustavaguetheory.Butthemorerealitgets,theharderitbecomes,andnowallStella’scommonsenseroseinrebellion.’Page123

TheentireplotofTheGirlWhoThoughtHerMotherWasaMermaidreliesuponthe‘reality’ofmermaidsexistingbeingkeptasecret.WhenMarciefindsoutaboutPearlandAquabelle’ssecret,andfilmsit,sheholdsallthepower(page152).

‘She’dbeenlongingforthechancetoconfideinCam,partlytoproveherwrong,butmostlyforthesheerreliefofbeingabletosharethewhole,incrediblestorywithsomeone.

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Yetshecouldn’t,nomatterhowmuchshewantedto.Itwasn’tjusthersecret,norwasitjustPearl’s.Itwasfarbiggerthanthat.Itwastheocean’ssecret.Inthatinstant,Stellaknewthatshewouldnevertellit.Evenmore,shewoulddoanythinginherpowertoprotectit,whateverthecost.’Page184

Discuss:Lookatpages132-135inwhichStellawatchesthevideo.Lookatthelanguageused.CanyoudefineexactlywhatmakesAquabelleandPearlmermaids?DoesUnsworthstillkeeptherealityofmermaidsasecret?WhydoesUnsworthdothis?Overtheyears,‘fake’mermaidshaveoftenbeenputondisplay.Lookatthehistoryofmermaidshows:Youcanseeaposterforan1833LivingMermaiddisplayhere:http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/large106757.htmlAndamodern-dayshowhere:https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/magazine/the-last-mermaid-show.htmlAndtheHornimanmuseumhere:https://www.horniman.ac.uk/collections/stories/manmade-mermaids/story-chapter/the-horniman-mermanAndtheBritishmuseumhere:http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=558837&partId=1

Discuss:Whydopeoplecreatefakemermaidsforshow?Comparethearticlesabovewiththeshowinthenovel.ThinkaboutStella’sfascinationwithsealifeinthemuseumswhenshewandersintoTheGalleryofOceanLife(page17),andtheaquarium(page74).Whendowerealisewhatweareseeingisfakeorreal?Doesa‘museum’giveauthenticitytosomething,buta‘show’isn’treal?

‘“It’swherethemagichappens!”Stellanoddedpolitely,thinkingoftheping-pongballs,andthesequinsmissingfromthemermaid’stail.’Page101

‘Shewasdresseduptolooklikeamermaid.Itwasashow.’Page92

Thinkabouttheshabbinessof‘CrystalCove’,‘thefirstlettersof“Crystal”and“Cove”madetolooklikewhite-tipped,crestingwaves.’Page86Discuss:WhydoesUnsworthmakeitsoshabby?WhyaretherenowindowsinthebackroomsoftheCrystalCove?HowquicklydoesStellarealisewhatGrammameantabouthermother?Whydopeopledressupasmermaidsandother‘unreal’creatures?Whydopeoplewatchshowsofthem?

StellaandCamalsohavetheirsecretsandlies.Stellastealsbooksfromthelibrary.‘Shekeptitasecret.’Page21Discuss:Whydoesn’tshejustborrowthem?

Camkeepsadiary,butreadsitoutloudtoStella.

‘“Ithoughtyouweren’tsupposedtotellanyonewhatyouwroteinyourdiary,”Stellasaid.“Whatwouldbethepointofthat?’”Stellashrugged.“Idon’tknow,soyoucouldkeepitasecret?That’swhatI’ddo,anyway.”’Page34

http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/large106757.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/07/magazine/the-last-mermaid-show.html

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/collections/stories/manmade-mermaids/story-chapter/the-horniman-merman

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/collections/stories/manmade-mermaids/story-chapter/the-horniman-merman

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=558837&partId=1

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=558837&partId=1

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Discuss:Arediariessupposedtobesecret?Doyoukeepadiary?Thinkabouthowitmightbedifferentifyouknewyourdiarywasgoingtoberead.Thinkaboutfamousdiaries,suchasTheDiaryofAnneFrank.Doyouthinkshemighthavewrittendifferentthingsifshehadknownitwouldbepublishedandreadworldwide?Activity:Keepadiaryforaweek.Attheendoftheweek,readthroughyourdiaryandhighlightallthebitsyouwanttokeepsecret.Howmuchhaveyouhighlighted?

Pictures/DrawingsStella’smotherusedtodolotsofdrawingsandsketchesofthingsonanypapertohand.Infact,sheleavesatrailofcluesinthesketchesshehasdrawn–onthebackofherphotograph,andalsoonthebedinCrystalCove.Activity:Canyoudrawatrailofcluesaboutyourownlife.Whichimageswouldyoudraw?Nowthinkabouttheimageoftheturtleinthebook.Re-readpages116-117.Doyouhaveonesymbolthatisimportanttoyou?Thinkabouthowpeopleusearttosymbolisethingsthatareimportanttothem–atattoo,anartworkonthewall,children’sdrawingspinnedontothefridge.Whichartworkscanyouseearoundyou?

Stellahasalargepictureoftheseahanginginthespareroom.Shegoestolookatitwhenshe’sfeelinglonely:‘Itwasanunusualpicture.First,becauseitwasextremelybig,almosttakingupthewholewalland,second,becausedespiteitssize,therewashardlyanythinginit.’Page9DiscussandActivity:Rereadthepage.Whatshouldbeinpictures?Istherearule?Lookatthesefamouspaintingsof‘justthesea’:TheGreatWavebyHokusai,WestPointbyWinslowHomer,SunsetbyJohnKensett,WavesBreakingbyClaudeMonet,StormatSeabyJMWTurner.Whatisthedifferencebetweenthem?Whatemotionsdotheyevoke?Canyouseemoreinthemthanatfirstglance?Whichdoyouprefer?

Memories

Inthenovel,thecharacterofGrammahasdementia:‘Despiteherefforts,hermemoriesbegantogrowthin.’Page8

‘Hermemoriesdidn’tfolloweachotherinorder;theyweremorelikeawell-shuffleddeckofcards.Therewasnowayoftellingwhichwouldcomeoutontop.’Page22

‘Hergrandmotherwasatimetraveller,Stellathought.Shewasalwaysarriving–withgreatdelightandsurprise-intoherownfuture.’Page28

‘Herdadlookedatherthoughtfully.“Idon’tthinkyourgrammahasforgottenanything,”hesaid.“Ibelievehermemoriesareintheresomewhere.Shehastroublefindingthemwhensheneedsto,that’sall.’”Page226

DiscussandActivity:Whatisdementia?Doyouknowanyonewithdementia?Makeaposterdescribingwhatdementiais.Nowdoyourownmemoryexercises.Takeatraywith10smallobjects,suchasawhistle,anacorn.Lookatthetrayfor1minute,thencoveritandseehowmanyobjectsyoucanremember.Wasitdifficult/easy?Increasethenumberofobjects.Whichobjectiseasiesttoremember?

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Playtheshoppinglistgameinacircle.Nowthinkaboutwhysomethingsaremoredifficulttorememberthanothers.Howdidyoufeelwhenyoucouldn’tremembersomething?Wasitfrustrating?

‘Itwassurprising,Stellathought,howoftenGrammagotthingsright,withoutevenrealisingit.’Page37

‘Grammamuddledeverythingup,Stellathought.Butshedidn’tmakethingsup.Inherownway,shewasthemosttruthfulpersonthatStellaknew.’Page43

Discuss:Readpage39.WhydoesTaniaUnsworthuseGrammatorevealthesecretthatStella’smumusedtobeamermaid?Seepage39.

‘“Abeautifultailandeverything,”Grammadeclared,smilingatthememory.’Page40Activity:Rememberthelastholidayyouwenton.Canyoudiscussitwithapartner?Whichthingsdoyouremember?Doyourememberemotions/feelingsratherthanspecificdetails?

Grammasaysthatanadvantageofmuddlingandforgettingthingsisthat‘itmeansI’mverygoodatkeepingsecrets.’Page230Discuss:Whydoyouthinkthisis?Isitbecausethesecretswon’tbebelieved,orthatGrammawon’trememberthem?

TaniaUnsworthuses‘memories’inotherwaysinthenoveltoo.Lookatthefollowingquotes.

‘Heusedtobegoodatplayinggamesbutsincehermumdied,hehadforgottenhowto.’Page12–13Discuss:HasStella’sfatherreallyforgottenhowtoplay?Whatdoestheauthormeanbythis?

Pearlblamesforgetfulnessforthemrevealingthattheyaremermaids:‘IhadtopinchAquabelletoremindherwhereshewas.’Page150Discuss:HadAquabellereallyforgottenwhereshewas?

‘Inthememory,Stellawasstandingnexttothewindow,andshemusthavebeenveryyoungbecauseherheadonlycameuptothelevelofhermum’shands.Shewasshowinghermumsomethinginabook.Itwasapictureofamermaid.Hermumlookeddownatthepage.“There’snosuchthing,”shesaid.Stellawasn’tsurewhysherememberedthistinyincident,outofallthethousandsofothers.Maybeithadstuckinhermindbecausehermum’svoicehadsoundeddifferent.Notsharp–hermumwasneversharp–butunusuallyabrupt.OrmaybeitwasthewayStellahadfeltinthatmoment.Asifshehaddonesomethingwrongwithoutknowingquitewhat.’Page24–25

‘Stellathoughttheymighthavestayeddancinglikethatforever,iftheyhadn’tseenherstandingthere.ShegazedatPearl,hermindbrightwiththememory.’Page122

Discuss:Stellahaslotsofmemoriesofhermother,andtheyevokedifferentemotionsinher.Tryanddescribetheemotions.Canyouthinkofsomeearlychildhoodmemories?Doyouthinktheyarerealorhaveyouembellishedthemwiththingspeoplehavetoldyousince?Howcanwetellamemoryisreal?

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Activity:Writeaboutanearlychildhoodmemory.Thinkcarefullyabouttheemotionsyouaretryingtoevoke.

‘Marciegesturedtothewallabovethedesk.Itwascoveredwithhundredsofphotographs,fliersandoldnewspapercuttings.“Mywallofmemories,”shesaid.’Page101Discuss:WhydoesMarciehaveawallofmemories?Activity:Canyoumakeyourown‘wallofmemories’onaposterorchart?Whichpeoplefeatureonyourwall?Whichevents?Useticketsorphotographs,notesanddrawingstofillyourwall.

‘Youmovedthroughwaterbeforeyouwereborn,allyouhavetodoisremember.’Page47

‘herbodystillheldthememoryofthatpower.’Page193Discuss:Whichmemoriesdoesthebodyimprint?Doourmusclesrememberhowtodothings?Activity:Memorycanbeseparatedintothreesets–declarative(facts),episodic(events)andprocedural(skills).Canyouwritedownsomeideasforwhatmightbeproceduralskills–i.e.Whatyourbodyrememberstodo?Thinkaboutthe‘memories’inthenovel-whichtypeofmemorysetdotheymainlyfitinto?

FurtherReading

TheLittleMermaidbyHansChristianAndersonTheTailofEmilyWindsnapbyLizKesslerTheMysteryoftheColourThiefbyEwaJozefkowiczTheSecretLifeofDaisyFitzjohnbyTaniaUnsworthTheSongfromSomewhereElsebyAFHarrold,illustratedbyLeviPinfoldTheSecretHorsesofBriarHillbyMeganShepherd

Documents

Unsworth The Girl Who Thought Teachers' Notes