Batchelder Book- A Game For Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return

Part One

Book Information: Abirached, Z. (2007). A game for swallows:to die,to leave,to return. New York,     New York: Graphic Universe
Genre: graphic novel/autobiography/comic book  
Grade Level: 6-8 (young adult/adult) I would recommend this book be read by older grade levels, young adults and even adults. The content of the story is more complex and requires a higher reading skill. The subject of the story is also for a mature audience.  

Part Two

Thoughts About Craft: I found the illustrations in this book to be very interesting. The only colors that are used in the entire book are black and white. The illustrations look like the figures and shapes were carved out of the background color. The book's illustrations have a comic book quality to them that is very intriguing to the reader. There is many different patterns throughout the book that ass an extra element to the seeming simple black and white pictures. The font that the story is written in matches the story perfectly. 

Part Three

Critique: When I began to read the introduction, I was not sure I was going to like the book. Then the first few pages with the images of the city, I was pretty convinced I was not going to like the story. But, I soon was hooked. I find it difficult to criticize autobiography's, because the story took place in real life. As I was reading I could not imagine being in the authors shoes and living like she did. Zeina makes the reader invested in all the characters that are in the story, probably because she was so connected/invested in them in her real life. War stories are normally very intense, and sometimes do not end happily. But, I was happy to see that this story had a happy ending.

Part Four
Lesson Sketch: 
Grade: 7th
Lesson Objective:
            Students will be able to:
                  - analyze the elements of the story
                  - write a five paragraph paper describing the interaction between the elements of the story and  
                    their relationship with a character or the plot.
           * Lesson is based on the Common Core standard CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.5 and CCSS ELA-Literacy. W.7.1a and 1d
Lesson Outline:

1. Student will read A Game for Swallows: To Die, T Leave, To Return
2. Teacher will lead a class discussion on the elements(i.e. setting) that affects the characters and the evolution of the plot
3. Students will then write a five paragraph essay, including an introduction and conclusion paragraph, describing the elements affects.

Questions: 

1. How do you think the author(Zeina) felt during the night in which the story takes place?
2. Do you take having electricity, a safe country, or even a dial tone for granted?
3. Have you ever been scared that you or someone you know would be hurt?
4. Did you like the black and white pictures?
5. If you were the author, would you have chosen to have the pictures the way they are? 

Links to Outside Resources:

•  Here is a short video of the author describing the book in her own words. This could be shown to students before reading the book to give them an idea of what it is about. http://frenchculture.org/books/interviews/interview-zeina-abirached
• This website can be a resource for the teacher who may not know much about the war that is refereed to in the book.  http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/13/world/meast/beirut-marine-barracks-bombing-fast-facts/
• Here is a fun video about creating a comic book story, which could be used if the lesson was changed/adapted include students creating their own comic book. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N15fXcqcHW0