Armageddon
Summer
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Armageddon Summer is a story told from two perspectives, Jed a young teenage boy and Marina, a young woman who is about to turn fourteen. As her fourteenth birthday approaches there is just one problem: The world is going to end on her birthday. At least, that is what Reverend Beelson preaches. Beelson has done the math and the world will definitely end on July 27th (Thursday) of the year 2000. Beelson believes he can save his congregation by camping out on Mount Weeupcut, and they will be the only ones who will survive Armageddon.
Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville have done an excellent job in presenting this story from two different perspectives. Marina believes at first, then she wants to believe, but deep down she knows the world is not going to end. Her family (with the exception of her father) believes though, brainwashed by Reverend Beelson along with Jed’s father. Jed’s mother ran out on the family with a photographer and Jed’s father eventually turned towards religion. He too, was brainwashed into believing that the world was going to end. Jed decides that he has to keep an eye on his father during this difficult time so he decides to tag along on this “camping trip.”
Reverend Beelson has proclaimed that only 144 people can be saved on Mount Weeupcut. While up on the mountain, Beelson has made the necessary arrangements to ensure the safety of his congregation and has collected enough food to feed a small army. Beelson has his “army” build an electric fence around the perimeter and his “angels” guard the main gate. With only 143 followers, Beelson’s son shows up at the last minute (very convenient) and now the gates are officially closed. The electric fence is activated and Beelson’s angels are now armed guards with semi-automatic weapons. This way, no one can get in the compound, or out.
Shut off from the rest of the world, computers and televisions are forbidden, Marina and Jed meet and are instantly attracted to one another. They develop a close relationship, which Marina’s mother is strictly against, and the two realize that this little trip might not be so bad after all. Marina’s mother has nothing to do with her own kids as she stays on the Mount, growing nastier every day, while Jed’s father has more and more respect for Beelson. Jed and Marina help each other through this ordeal as their parents change into strangers before their eyes. Everything doesn’t seem too bad, until the LMCs (Last Minute Christers) bring forth judgment day on some of the believers
On the eve of Armageddon, while everyone is receiving their robes, the LMCs, who have been camping outside the main gate, attack the cops and bust through the main gate. In the confusion that follows, some believers and some LMCs are killed. The main house catches on fire as well as the camp site. Gunshots ring out all over the place. Reverend Beelson talked of how fire would rain down from heaven and in a way he was speaking the truth.
Marina gets the kids to safety in a cave on top of the Mountain and Jed gets his laptop (he smuggled it in) in order to call for help. Hank, the undercover FBI agent makes the call and gets help to come. Jed’s father shoots a woman before he himself is killed, and Jed knocks out Marina’s mother with the laptop when she attacks him. It is safe to say that all Hell does break loose on top of Mount Weeupcut for several hours.
In the end, 20 people are killed, including Reverend Beelson. Forty people are wounded and the rest suffer the traumatic experience of Armageddon. Jed goes to live with his mother in Colorado on (what else?) the top of a mountain. Marina continues to live with her mother, who seems to be back to normal, although Marina’s father is getting a divorce and already has a girlfriend. It is assumed that the rest of the congregation goes back to their normal everyday lives. Their only problem was that they believed too much in what Reverend Beelson had to say. Marina and Jed keep in touch via email and it seems that those two will live happily ever after.
Armageddon Summer is the debut collaboration of two prolific authors, Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville. Yolen and Coville have enjoyed a combined total of over 50 years as professional writers. They both discovered the pleasures of writing in their youths; and both have developed what were once pleasurable hobbies into successful careers of writing stories for young readers
Jane Yolen was born on February 11, 1939 in New York City. Her parents were both authors. Yolen's father was a journalist, and her mother wrote short stories. As a young girl Yolen read many of the classics by Robert Louis Stevenson, Louisa May Alcott, Rudyard Kipling, James Thurber, and E.B.White. Yolen attended Smith College and went on to pursue a master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. She is married to Professor David W. Stemple. They have three grown children, who have all collaborated on books with Yolen, and several grandchildren. She now has two homes: one in Massachusetts and the other in Scotland. To date, Yolen has over 200 works to her credit and has won numerous literary achievement awards. She finds inspiration for stories all around her: paintings, dreams, family, conversations, song lyrics, and other books.
Bruce Coville was born on May 16, 1950 in Syracuse, New York. Coville attributes much of his colorful imagination to growing up in a rural area. He found plenty of time and plenty of places to let his imagination roam while visiting his grandparents' farm. As a young boy, his favorite books included Mary Poppins, Dr. Doolitle, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and lots of comic books. Although Coville started writing children's books as a teenager, he didn't publish his first book, The Foolish Giant until he was 27 years old. This was a collaborative effort with his wife, Kathy, as the illustrator. For many years, Coville taught second and fourth grade elementary school to supplement his writing career. While he no longer teaches, he makes many guest appearances at schools across the nation. He and Kathy have three children: Orion, Adam, and Cara.
The theme for Armageddon Summer was Jane Yolen's idea. She was reluctant to work on the project alone, yet eager to write a story which she had been "noodling" for some time. She called her good friend, Bruce Coville, and asked if he wanted to collaborate on the project. Despite the 500 miles between their homes, Coville was ready and willing to work. Their plan was to communicate through e-mail, as well as send chapters to each other through the regular mail. However, several times, Coville drove the long distance to Yolen's house where they would participate in a sort of "dueling keyboards." Yolen would write a chapter from Marina's perspective, and then Coville would write the next chapter from Jed's. This technique obviously worked, because one of the finest features of the book is the synchronization of the two voices. Marina and Jed feel similar emotional reactions to their experiences, yet they articulate their responses slightly differently. Together, Yolen and Coville managed to write half the novel in one week's time. To date, Armageddon Summer has won several awards, including Book Links Best Book of the Year, and School Library Journal Best Book for Young Adults.
Jane Yolen and
Bruce Coville also share a love for performance, as well as their love
for writing. Yolen "moonlights" as a professional story teller; Coville
loves musicals and has already written several musicals for young people.
He is now working on an adult musical about teaching. Both Yolen
and Coville have advice for aspiring writers: "Read. Write. Read. Write."
You can also find more writing tips by visiting their websites.
Bruce Coville's website
http://www.brucecoville.com
Jane Yolen Biography
http://www.penguinputnam.com/catalog/yreader/authors/294_biography.html
Stella Malone
A nice activity for students reading Armageddon Summer could entail a research paper/presentation on religions from other cultures or faiths besides their own. The format could be as follows:
Students will select and research a religion or religious group and present their findings to the class and teacher in the form of a presentation, a fact sheet and a personal (reflective) response (including factual information).
The report should
cover, but not be limited to:
· Origination (history) of the faith
· Beliefs: creation, life philosophy and Armageddon or end of world
belief
· Holy days?
· Traditions
· Geographic Concentration
· Sample Writings
· Membership/Initiation
It could also be fruitful and enjoyable for students to create their own religions. The requirements would be the same. The religion would have to be well developed. This kind of activity must be done well, academically, and carefully so as not to offend students, parents or community members, but rather to foster multi-ethnic learning and understanding along with the various skills that this lesson encompasses: Research, Presentation (Oral, Visual?), Writing, and Personal Response.
Earl Foster
Webquest for Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville
1. After
reading the novel students could be asked to read the book reviews on the
previous website. Students could then write their own reviews of
the novel. They could agree or disagree with the reviews they read
and include their own opinions on the novel. Students could discuss
why they could relate to the novel or why they did not?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0152022686/teenlitcom/002-9460523-6015433
2. Jane Yolen’s
website is an excellent source of information for both teachers and students.
Students could be asked to explore this website in order to find information
about Jane Yolen’s life, other works by her, and much, much, more.
Students could also e-mail Jane Yolen if they wanted.
http://www.janeyolen.com/
3. Like
Jane Yolen’s website, Bruce Coville’s website is also full of information
that students could explore. Students could be asked to answer specific
questions or they could be asked to read what they liked and report back
some of the information that they found. This website is also a great
resource for both teachers and students.
http://www.brucecoville.com/
4. Students could
be asked to read this website to find out from the author what spurred
her to write the novel and how the novel began. Reading what the
author writes about how she began the novel can help students develop further
incite into the novel and the author. Students can also read more
reviews of Armageddon Summer. Students could also read about
other books by Jane Yolen that may spur them to further read this author.
http://www.janeyolen.com/yadbooks.html
- Review of Armageddon Summer: http://www.ala.org/booklist/v94/youth/aug/57yolen.html
- Bruce Coville's website: http://www.brucecoville.com/
- Jane Yolen Biography: http://www.penguinputnam.com/catalog/yreader/authors/294_biography.html
- Interview with Jane Yolen: http://www.ipl.org/youth/AskAuthor/Yolen.html
- Review of Amageddon Summer: http://www.secondaryenglish.com/armageddon.htm
