Children's Literature - Brenda Seabrooke's Teaching Guides

Brenda Seabrooke's Teaching Guides

JUDY SCUPPERNONG

“A unique coming-of-age narrative to intrigue the sensitive, sophisticated reader.” ---Horn Book, starred review, Fanfare

BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK HONOR BOOK

“An unusual book of free verse with a quiet, but compelling, first-person narrative.” ---Booklist

BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS, Blue Ribbon

“...a distinct poetic style that enhances readers’ insight and creates vivid impressions in swift, sure strokes. --School Library Journal

ISBN:0-525-65038-5
Ages 9 up, $12.95
Cobblehill Books
Illustrations copyright1990 by Ted Lewin

WHY I WROTE ABOUT JUDY...

I never forgot Judy, the girl who lived briefly in my neighborhood one summer. Lala and Stacy only remembered her after I wrote the book. I remembered her because she was different and because she was surrounded by mystery...

Themes and discussion topics:

Differences among people make life more interesting.
Learning from others will enrich your own life.
Human behavior is not always as it seems on the surface.
People should be judged for themselves.

Suggested Activities

SOCIAL STUDIES

List ways that Judy changed the girls that summer. Would this have happened if the girls hadn’t met Judy?
JUDY SCUPPERNONG is a mystery with clues that lead to the solution at the end. Track these clues through the book. Find other clues which show the time in history that the story takes place.
What is Iola’s mystery? In what ways were she and Judy alike? Different?
Look up statistics on out-of-wedlock births in 1940 and today. Has the attitude of society changed and in what ways?

LANGUAGE ARTS

How would this book have been different if the poems had been written from Judy’s point of view? Stacy’s or Lala’s? A parent’s?
There are many pairings in the book which show contrasting events, behavior, ideas, such as the two birthday parties. Make a list of the pairs and discuss how they are alike and how they are different.
Some of the poems serve to advance the mystery. Find them and discuss how they move the story along.
Write a series of poems about yourself and your family.

QUOTES TO QUESTION

The world was a different place from our point of view. (p.9)
...while our mouths dreamed of Judy and her cheeseburgers and fries. (p.12)
Her mother wouldn’t have come out even if we’d made a real snowstorm. (p.31)
George knew I never played with dolls. (p.45)
I bet she would use a powder mitt. (p.49)
This meant gossip with neon allure. (p.51)
Nobody cared if Judy read love comics. (p.60)
When Judy came out her eyes were clear like drops of water. (p.62)

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