Creech, Sharon. (1996). Walk Two Moons. New York: Harper Collins. 280 pp.

Grade Range: 6-12

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Summary and Critique

On a road trip with Gramps and Gran, Salamanca traces the same path her mother took when she abruptly left the young girl and her father. Sal regales her grandparents with amusing stories about the many different adventures she shared with her friend Phoebe Winterspoon. As the young girl weaves tales of intrigue surrounding a mysterious stranger, her father, his friend Mrs. Cadavor, and Phoebe's own mother's abrupt disappearance, Sal becomes aware of her own hidden fears and feelings regarding her mother's quick decision to leave her family. Detours to various landmarks and unexpected delays loom over their journey, and an air of urgency is always present as their goal to arrive by certain and very important date is threatened.

Sharon Creech mingles laughter and love with sadness and tragedy through the use of strong, realistic characters. Vivid imagery supports the landscape of their journey, providing strength for the characters to continue their quest to reach their destination.

Awards

Newbery Medal, 1995

An American Library Association Notable Book

A School Library Journal Best Book

Winner of Bulletin Blue Ribbon

A Notable Children Trade Book in the Language Arts (National Council of Teachers of English)

Winner of Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

Outstanding Books of 1994 for Middle School-Aged Teens

Best Books 1994 by School Library Journal

Themes/Topics

Families

Friends and Enemies

Generations

Challenges and Triumphs

Adventure

Author/Illustrator/Editor Information

Sharon Creech was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and spent part of her childhood living in Washington, D. C. As an adult, she lived in England and Switzerland for twenty years before returning to the United States with her husband. Many of the characters in her novels are based on people in her life. In Pleasing the Ghosts (1997), Uncle Arvie is based on her own father, Arvel. A family road trip following the same route made by Sal, Gramps and Gran was part of the inspiration for Walk Two Moons (1994). Other novels she has written include The Wanderer (2000). Love That Dog (2001), and Heartbeat (2004).

For more information about Sharon Creech:

http://www.sharoncreech.com Creech's official home page, providing biographical information, book inspirations, and teaching ideas.

Media Connections

Movies

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945) This story of the struggling Irish-American Nolan family living in the tenements of Brooklyn at the turn of the century is told through the eyes of their young daughter, Francie. Torn between the realities of life lived through her strong mother and the fleeting dreams of her alcoholic father, Francie attempts to balance the two different worlds when the family suffers a terrible crisis.

Mermaids (1990) Charlotte is a fifteen-year-old teen-age girl being raised along with her younger sister Kate by her free-spirited single mother in early 1960's. As the family settles into a small New England town, Charlotte experiences many new emotions as she has her first crush on a local boy with a past. Simultaneously, she tries to figure out how her absent father fits into her life and questions her dreams of becoming a nun.

My Girl 2 (1994) As her father starts a new life with her pregnant stepmother, Shelly, thirteen-year-old Vada Sultenfuss becomes curious about her real mother's life. Ultimately, the teen chooses her mom, whom she never met, as a research project as an important figure in her life. After receiving her father's permission (with the agreement she would stay with her Uncle), Vada jets off to Los Angeles to investigate her mother's life before she met her father.

My Family/Mi Familia (1995) Beginning in the 1930's, this movie spans across three generations of the Sanchez family living in East Los Angeles. Initially, the movie starts with the difficulties and struggles faced by recent immigrants Jose and Maria Sanchez. The story then shifts to their son Jimmy as he attempts to raise his own family during the turbulent 1960's.

Now and Then (1995) This is a story of four childhood girlfriends who, as adults, become reacquainted and reflect back on the summer when they were twelve years old. During that particular time, the girls suffered from different family crises that varied from parental indifference to a divorce to the death of a mother. Becoming each others'confidents, they struggle to understand the myriad of emotional and physical changes they experienced as pre-Teens and as young women.

Television

Blossom (1991-1995) This comedy centers around the young teenage girl, for which the series is given its name. Living with her newly divorced father and two older brothers, Blossom records her thoughts, feelings, and confusion as a teenager learning to adjust to a new house, school, and friends.

Eight Is Enough (1977-1981) At the start of the second season, the Bradford family, comprising the patriarchal father and his eight children, must now cope with their pain, anger and grief while they attempt to adjust to life after the sudden death of their mother.

Music

"You've Been Driving All the Time." Lyrics by Pat Bunch and Harry Stinson. Performed by Martina McBride. From Wild Angels. RCA, 1995. The lyrics support and describe the relationship and special strong bond that is shared between Gramps and Sal as he taught her how to drive on the farm when she was eleven.

Online Resources

http://www.dougy.org This Web site offers resources for young children and Teens to cope with a death in the family or of a friend by providing a place where they can share their feelings and experiences. The site offers training by professionals to help children or students deal with grief.

http://www.allkidsgrieve.org This Web site presents links to different areas for children, parents, teachers, and other professional resources to cope with a death of a friend or within a family. One link recommends a book list that deal with the topics of grief/loss and classroom strategies for teachers.

http://www.grandparenting.org This Web site provides information to grandparents about their role in the lives of their young grandchildren. One particular article discusses the special relationship between teenagers and their grandparents.

http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/walktwomoons.html A must for any teacher, this Web site gives not only a review of the book, but ideas to help start conversations and different activities. There are links to the author's own Web site and teaching guides.

http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/walk/walktg.htm The San Diego County Office of Education presents a useful teaching guide.

http://www.harperchildrens.com/teacher/ The book's publisher has put together a teaching guide that includes discussion questions for a small-group, cross-curriculum activities and an author's page.

Related Texts

Avi. (2003). Crispin: The Cross of Lead. New York: Hyperion Books for Children. 262pp. After being wrongly accused in the death of his mother, a young boy flees his 14^th century English village and learns of his true name, Crispin, from his mother's lead cross. He meets a juggler named Bear. Young Crispin becomes first his servant and then his friend. He discovers his true quest etched in the cross while he attempts to rescue Bear from prison.

Babbitt, Natalie. (1975). Tuck Everlasting. Farrar, Straus, Giroux. Upon discovering a spring in the forest near her home, young Winnie Foster learns of its magical capabilities to do more than quench a thirst, but grant eternal life as told and experienced by the Tuck Family. Pondering whether eternal life is as a "blessing," Winnie is followed one day by a mysterious stranger. He soon discovers the eternal spring and hopes to profit from its magical powers.

DiCamillo, Kate. (2000). Because of Winn-Dixie. Cambridge: Candlewick Press. 182pp. At a local Winn-Dixie store, Opal hears the store manager's threats to take a stray dog to the pound. Protective, she ends up taking the mutt home and names him Winn-Dixie. Soon the twosome meet and befriends various neighbors, learning about life's disappointments, losses, and joys. In the end, Opal comes to terms about her mother's decision to leave seven years earlier.

Howe, James. (2001). The Color of Absence: 12 Stories about Loss and Hope. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 238pp. Written by premiere Young Adult writers, this collection of twelve short stories revolves around the emotions of loss and hope faced by young teenagers. After each story, the author provides background information and personal understanding to the story itself.

Konigsburg, E. L. (1996). The View From Saturday. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 176pp. Four very different students are chosen by their teacher to represent their school for the Academic Bowl. As each student offers a brief narrative history on their unique role to the group, their teacher provides a narrative about her decision to choose these special students. The question is did she really choose them or did they choose her?

Meyer, Stephanie. (2000). Teen Ink: Our Voices, Our Visions. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc. 300pp. This book is a collection of poems written by teenagers who face many emotional stresses and pressures as Teens. Different themes focus on friends, family, heroes and challenges including love and loss. Some poems reveal the young writers'memories and creative talents.

Paterson, Katherine. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: Crowell. 128pp. Young Jesse Aarons befriends Leslie, his new neighbor who beats him and every other boy in the race to determine the fastest person in the fifth grade. Together the youngsters share many adventures as they create a magical land called Terabithia. Upon returning from a special trip to Washington, D.C. with his music teacher, Jesse must deal with an unexpected tragedy and turns to his special friendship with Leslie for hope and guidance.

Sachar, Louis. (1998). Holes. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux. 233pp. The family curse has finally been passed on down to Stanley Yelnats as he is wrongly accused of stealing a pair of tennis shoes that happened to fall from the sky into his arms. The punishment for his crime has him sent to Camp Green Lake to dig five feet wide and five feet deep holes to help build character. He soon wonders, though, if the camp administrators are actually trying to dig up something buried a long time ago.

Teaching Ideas

(1) "Character Description" This idea originally calls for students to create and enhance the development of their own characters in their writing. This form can be used to help distinguish the commonalities and differences of Sal, Gramps, Gran, Phoebe, and other characters in the story. It uses two forms that help students to build up their characters. The first form has the students list the physical and personality traits of their characters. The students fill out the first form using clear and concise wording as the spaces are small, using descriptors such as age, hair, dress, personality, speech and behavior. The second form has students review key character traits of one chosen character. As they review the character's individual thoughts, actions and feelings, examples from the text are chosen to reaffirm their chosen ideas. Students then take their notes from the two forms and write one or more descriptive paragraphs about their chosen character.

[Summarized from "Character Paragraphs" by Margot Miller in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, Il: National Council of Teachers of English, October 1995, p. 4-6.]

(2) "Communicating Across Generations" The intention of this project was to help Teens and their parents/grandparents establish a strong communication link using an interview and Venn diagram to illustrate differences and commonalities. An adaptation of this idea is to have the students brainstorm in a small group setting a list of the characteristics and personalities of Sal, Gramps and Gran. The students then transfer this information with Sal on one side and Gramps and Gran on the other side of a Venn Diagram taking special notice of the common attributes shared among the three characters. Students then present their findings to the class.

[Summarized from "Can We Talk? Encouraging Communication between Teens and Older Generations" by K. D'Ann Cathriner in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, Il: National Council of Teachers of English, January 1996, p.1-2.]

(3) "A Narrative Quilt" This activity is an alternative to a traditional oral/written book report as it provides inspiration for many readers to share stories. A small group of young children reading the same book can create a group-presentation form using a quilt. The first step is to gather materials to use for the quilt which can include the following; old material remnants, wall paper, old sheets, rags, and T-shirts. Students then cut them into the same size squares, 8" x 8" or 9" x 9" is suggested. After gathering their quilt squares, students then can choose to write down the different characters, use quotes, summarize the story but leave out the end, and leave empty quilt squares for other students to make their comments. To connect the quilt squares, students can either sew by hand, staple or weave ribbon or yarn through punched holes in the materials. Once their quilt is finished, the students present their quilt book report to the class.

[Summarized from "How to Quilt a Narrative–A New Form for Book Reports" by Rose Reissman in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, Il: National Council of Teachers of English, October 1996, p. 8-9.]

(Review written by Cecilia Castagnola and edited by Jennifer E. Moore)