Independent Novel Projects


1. Give a brief summary of the plot in about ½ to 1 page. Tell the story and describe what happens at the end.

The Little Prince starts with the narrator crash landing in a desert and how he meets a young prince from another planet. The prince recites his adventures to the narrator and they soon become friends. He describes his planet, Asteroid 325 and how he takes great care of it, including a rare flower that he dearly loves. The prince decides to explore other planets to cure his loneliness after he feels his flower deceives him. As he visits different planets, he learns about the vagaries and narrow-mindedness of adult behaviour. The rose is very common on the planet earth and this discovery disappoints the little prince. He finds meaning in his life as a desert fox encourages him to love his own rare rose and therefore returns to his planet and learns to take care of his flower.


2. Explain the significance of the title (3 or 4 sentences). Authors do not choose a title randomly. Usually the tile is symbolic in some way.

The book uses a characters name, the Little Prince, as its title. Antoine de Saint-Exupery would have chosen this title because the book follows the adventures of the Little Prince. The novel’s moral is based on the Little Prince’s ideas and actions.

3. Describe the setting and genre – time period, location, etc. (5-10 sentences)

The novel is probably set during the 1930’s as Antoine de Saint-Exupery crashed in the Sahara Desert on the 30th December 1935. The Sahara Desert is the first location the novel is set in. The novel then visits the Little Prince’s planet, Asteroid 325, and other planets inhabited by adults as the Little Prince recounts his adventures. Antoine de Saint-Exupery writes fables and allegories. He involves philosophical themes and messages in his novels for children.

4. Write a few sentences about each of the main character(s). Answer what you like or dislike about them and why they are worthy of praise and/or criticism.

The Narrator (Antoine de Saint-Exupery) – The narrator is enjoys drawing, however abandons this when he was a young child because the adults did not understand his drawings and encouraged him to give up this hobby. He then became a pilot and flew over the Sahara Desert but unfortunately due to the plane’s failing engine, he crash landed in the desert where he met the prince and learns how to live his life. I dislike how the narrator quit drawing. Instead the narrator should’ve continued drawing as that is what he loves even though adults encouraged him not to.

The Little Prince – the Little Prince comes from asteroid 325 and he leaves his planet to search for knowledge and wisdom. He travels to 7 planets all which are inhabited by adults and does not find wisdom there. On the last planet, Earth, he meets a desert fox who teaches him the secret of life and teaches the narrator that you have to be responsible for the things you tame.

5. Write a paragraph identifying what caused a major change in the main character and explain how the character changed. These changes may have been due to a choice, a conflict, a display of some outstanding trait like courage, or even a result of events that occur during the novel.

The Little Prince changes after he meets the desert fox. He changes his way of falling in love, with his heart and not his heart, and he learns that he has to be responsible to the things he tames.



7. Choose one sentence from the text and tell why this sentence embodies the theme of the story. Illustrate the theme/sentence using text images that you feel bring the theme to live.

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

"But eyes are blind. You have to look with the heart."


8. Write a general review of the book. Would you recommend the book? Why or why not? Would you have changed any element of the story (plot, characters, setting, resolution, conflicts, point of view, etc)?

I recommend this book to both adults and child readers. It is a lovely children’s fable and I would not have changed any element of the story.

9. Write a script for a role play of a scene in your book. Try to make it lively and exciting and use the words of the characters in the book.

10. In front of the class, you and your partner will read your answers to #1, 8 and then perform the role play (#9).

Have FUN and Be CREATIVE!

It sent chills up his spine
The day he crossed the line
The picture of his teacher
With his angry features

He swallowed his throat
Sweating through his coat
Toes tied up in a knot
He was put on the spot

The teacher marched over
His lean figure bending over
The teacher crumpled his face
And Spat out: “You sir, are a disgrace”

He curled up in his chair
Barely breathing the air
Started to mumble a few words
“My dog ate it, Mr Cawbirds”

The class started to snort and smile
As they created a large pile
But the one sheet of homework missing
Was the one which belonged to Fredward Lissing.

I love how planes are so clean. I am weird like that. I love how the food come in the exactly right shape and size. I love the orderly and corporate smell and the high-pitched voices of the beautiful flight attendants asking if I want more water.

"Yes, I would love some," I reply as she hands me a perfect carry bottle of water.

I take a sip as she clears my tray, and I click the tray back into the seat in front of me. I look at my rolex watch. 8:15. Time for my daily nap. I turn Beethoven's Symphony 9 on, and let the music soothe my ears as i fall into a deep sleep.

* * *

The plane is rumbling and it shakes me awake. Everyone has their oxygen masks on and life vests on.

'Crap Crap Crap!" I repeat in my head as i hurriedly put my oxygen mask over my head and tighten my vest. I look outside the window and see sand, no water at all. Suddenly, the plane drops down, fast. People are shouting, screaming out loud in pain. And then it all ends with a CRASH. There is one thing i hate the most: spontaneity.

* * *

I wake up again, this time in a totally different atmosphere. I feel dizzy, hot and sweaty, like im about to pass out, again. I inhale a breath of air, and choke on dry sand. My mouth is so dry like a desert with no moisture or water. I try to produce some saliva, but i fail. I yell for help, but i hoarse silent cry is made. I look around and see sand, more sand and a dark coloured figure coming closer and closer.

"Hi, I'm Jamal. How are you feeling?" he said.

I try to ask for water but i roll on the sand instead looking like a fish out of water but somehow Jamal understands and takes out a bottle of water identical to the one i drank out of before. I gulp it down in one long sip. "Thank you," i say breathing heavily, my body exhausted, but at least i wasn't dehydrated. "Where are we?"

"Welcome to the desert, at least we think we are." Crap.

"What happened?"

"Well, we're trying to find out. Do you happen to know anything about planes?"

Crap, no one here knows about planes, and neither did i.

* * *

"We have three days of supplies left. We have a vet, a lawyer, a teacher, a doctor, a navy officer and the CEO of Rolex. We have there days to get out of here, alive. Do you understand?" Jamal repeats. "Now, creating the plane again is not an option. We need to walk quickly to society or villages. Where there is a village, there will be water and food. From there we will contact home. Any suggestions?"
I look at my Rolex watch. 6:15pm and the sun hasnt even set. "We should start travelling soon. It would be easier to travel at night than in the day." And so we do.

* * *

It's the second day, and we only have one day left. The team is resting. 12pm, i read on my watch. it will at least be another 8 hours until we move again on the remainder of supplies.

* * *

It's the sixth night and Jamal and I are the only ones still alive. We ran out of supplies three days ago and we haven't found a community yet. I cannot feel my legs. I feel as i'm on auto control. I feel absolutely nothing, but yet, i am taking steps over and over again as i breath heavily. My mind is blank and all i can hear is my stomach grumble and my breaths over and over again. I hear a thud. I turn around and see Jamal collapse and panting on the floor. "Keep going," he pants. "I see lights." I turn around and see blurry lights. I gasp. This has to be the luckiest day. I wonder if its a mirage, if its my imagination, but its not. Somehow, i have the strength to run across the desert and into the little village lit with lamps. I feel as i have found a needle in a haystack.

The Other Side of Truth- Why does Sade feel bad about Hiding the Truth?

Sade feels bad about hiding the truth when they arrive in London because the truth would help them to be reunited with their dad or find their Uncle Dele but they are prevented to say the truth as their papa has not safely arrived in London. This is demonstrated when Sade and Femi are interviewed by Mama Appiah. Sade is very hesitant about what to tel the social workers, "Part of her wanted to tell Mama Appiah the whole truth, including that she had given Iyaw0-Jenny a false surname. But fear stopped her. When papa was safely in England then it would be different..." (p.85). Sade wants to tell the truth so she can have assistance with finding Uncle Dele and be reunited with her father, however she bellieves its too risky as her father had not arrived in London and this prevented her from speaking the truth. This is why she feels bad. Sade is hiding her identity as she doesnt want to risk her fathers life.

Thanks:)

Hayley writes her mystery story.

My knees were trembling, teeth, clenched hard, pain repeating to stab my body and my voice and heart were screaming, but the atmosphere; a sharp silence. My parents were lying on the flames in my bedroom, drenched in their own blood in the mist of the smoky fire air. This was my only childhood memory.

I stood there in my own bedroom, which my shy seven year-old-self would hide occasionally under the bed. The house was in ruins. The crisp silence filled my ears as I watched the grey and gloomy ashes piled in the corner of the room. The remainder of my black, torn and ugly care bear curtains, fluttering on the window. An elephant plush toy now colourless and ripped into several pieces on my fallen bookshelf. The cracked mirror standing on the sidewall reflecting an ugly image. This monster had red blisters, blood oozing out of its burns that covered her body. It was hideous. I stepped to the right. It did the same. I lifted my hand. It followed. That monster was the reflection of my seventeen-year-old self.

This is the first bit of my story. More to COME!

HAYLEY learns that she is awesome.

HEY GUYS.
this is why i'm awesome.

When youre in the backyard playing in the neighbourhood world cup.
and your window cops a cracking cover drive.
give asap glass a call.
theyll be there in no time at all.
in under thirty minutes theyll arrive.
7 days a week.
24 hours a day.
call 1300 734 584 and say mate my glass is cactus and i need to fix it fast.
ASAP GLASS.
p.s.
bella copied me.

I wanna be the very best.
like no one ever was.
(DUN DUN DUN)
to catch them was my real test and to train them was my goal.
i will travel across the land.
searching far and wide.
its pokemon to understand the power thats inside.
POKEMON GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL.

i shall post the rest later.
bye for now.
:)

HAYLEY posts her short story.

HEY GUYS,

this is my first short story i have posted.

leave me a comment on what you think.

it's called: The Pain, The Chain and the Rain.

pretty groovy aye :)

bye for now.

Pain hit him like a silver blade between the shoulders. Every drop that fell from the sky pierced his skin, digging into him over and over. He did not know if it was because of the rain or the guilt raging through his veins. All he knew was that he had to get away; as far away as possible. He ran as fast as he could through the downpour.

It was getting harder to breathe. “One more step, one more step, one more step,” he repeated the mantra, forcing himself to move forwards; dragging his heavy body along with his will.

He had to stop, it was much too painful, and blood was dripping from his body. The same colour as Daniel’s blood. He had not meant to kill him, it was an accident. He had just wanted the chain. He never intended to use the knife, just to use it to scare Daniel into giving him the priceless gold necklace.

When it was all over he could not believe what had happened. He could hear his heart pumping in his brain. Then the rain began to fall, he snatched the necklace from Daniel’s neck and ran. It was all about the necklace; it was worth a large sum of money.

His stomach felt like it was going to explode. He hunched over in order to loosen his stitch in his side. He inhaled sharply. Bad move, his lungs suddenly caught on fire. At least that was what it felt like. He coughed. Twice, and spat out a mouthful of blood. He tried to draw in more oxygen, but the air was getting thicker, the downpour heavier. He fell to his knees and then onto his stomach, the rain repeatedly stabbing his body.

* * *

Daniel was missing, she was frantic.

“Where on earth could he be? It’s raining! What if he is outside?” she moaned to herself. Her son, her only child, had left school at 8am this morning; it was now 7pm and it was raining. The rain was toxic; it burnt anything and everything that it touched, and no one went out in the rain.

Daniel was her world. A straight-A-student, and captain of the football team, such a combination was a rarity. He worked two part-time jobs just to help her out at home. Her husband had passed away last year, leaving only his loving family and a priceless gold necklace.

The rain stopped two hours later. The air was thick and toxic. It was common sense to avoid the rain and for thirty minutes after the downpour. Luckily he seemed to be out of the wet. As soon as his eyes had adjusted to the bright fluorescent lights, pain hit him. It was like a wave of sensation, flooding his entire body in a matter of seconds. His body was suddenly sweaty and shaking. It hurt so much.

* * *

“AWWWWWWWW GAWD!” he screamed through his teeth. A monitor next to him started beeping faster and faster- increase in heart rate. People rushed to his side. The pain dulled slightly. His eyes were blurred by tears.

“He’s still in pain.”

”We can’t give him more morphine, we’ll kill him.”

“The pain is killing him!” Two nurses were bickering away.

“Shut up!” he groaned. “What’s happening?!”

“You are in hospital. You passed out in the acid rain and have suffered severe burns. Do you remember your name?” a commanding voice asked.

“It hurts!” Sean gasped.

“Do you remember your name?” the voice asked.

“Duh,” he spat rudely.

“What year is this?” the voice asked. “2147,” he answered grunting, writhing on the bed.

“Who is your emergency contact?” the voice asked, he had obviously determined that Sean was sane.

“My mum,” he cried out.

“You’ve reached a ten on the pain scale; we are going to put you in a chemically induced coma. Do you consent?” asked the voice. He nodded and the world seemed to fade away.

The hospital received a phone call from the police, there was a frantic mother, missing a dark haired teenage boy in a school uniform before the storm. The doctor called her in immediately.

“There’s a boy here, arrived just over half an hour ago, his clothes suggested that he went to the same school as your son and he fits the physical description,” the doctor told a nervous looking mother.

Mrs Harrison looked down at the burnt, blistered body, “Is that him?” she gasped in shock.

“We found this in his pocket, do you recognize it, Mrs Harrison?” the doctor held a glittering object in his palm. She immediately collapsed into tears, “Yes, that belongs to my boy, my beautiful Daniel.”

HAYLEY has a new pen pal.

hey guys!
i have a new pen pal.
i haven't heard from her yet but i know she is from RWANDA.
this is a part of the RAAISE project.
so exciting :)
in other news.
we're going to camp soon.
wish me luck, please.
i'm also practicing my squidward impersonation.
i shall show you next time.
for now,
see you later alligator.

HAYLEY posts her first post :)

Hey Guy's,
this is HAYLEY :)
i will soon be updating my blog and posting new posts.
so stay in tuned.
i'm currently reading The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
so far, it's really good.
except for a few naughty words. *giggle*
putting up a few of my short stories soon.
read up smarty's.
p.s. the reason that i have been reading the same book for a while is because my sister stole it and i couldn't find it for ages!
bye for now.
hayley.