NightJohn


 

Book Talk

Gary Paulsen's "Nightjohn" is an epic tale about slavery in the the south before the Emancipation Proclamation. The tale begins with Sarny, a young African American slave girl who's learning average everyday slave life.  Sarny was never able to grow up with her mother because she was sold.  The novel depicts life of field workers along with the children forced into slavery. Sarny expresses no hope in her life until Nightjohn comes along. Nightjohn was known as a renegade slave who would rebel and try to run away.  Sarny is drawn to Nightjohn when she learns that he had escaped to the North and homefree to where freedom awaited, only to voluntarily return to the South.  He eventually begins to teach Sarny how to read.  He begins teaching Sarny letters one by one. He educates her after the field work is done and everyone goes to sleep. Mammy finds out Nightjohn is teaching Sarny how to read and she becomes angered, but allows Sarny to continue her education. Sarny with tremendous happiness begins writing words in the dirt. However, Waller the master of the plantation, finds out Sarny is learning how to read and begins questioning Mammy. Mammy denies that anyone taught Sarny how to read. Waller brutally whips Mammy until Nightjohn steps in and admits to Waller that he educated Sarny. What Waller does next is unbelievable.  Will Nightjohn be able to recover?  Will he be able to teach Sarny?  Or is this the end of Nightjohn?

Author

    Gary Paulsen was born on May 17, l939 in Minnesota.  Since his father was stationed in Europe during World War II, he was raised by his grandmother and several aunts the first few years of his life.  He lived overseas after the war in the Philippines between 1946-49. After that time, he was constantly moving because of his father's military career. His parents were alcoholics, so eventually Gary had to move in with relatives and become self-supporting.
    He attended Bemidji College, now Bemidji State University, in Minnesota, paying his tuition by being a trapper. He also spent some time in the army. One day he decided to just try  writing and become a magazine editor. He spent nearly a year as an associate magazine editor on a magazine for men in California. He published his first book, Special War, in 1966.  He published nearly forty books, several articles and short stories.  As time went on he picked up the hobby of dog sledding which became the subject of some of his future works, like Dogsong.  He suffered a heart attack in 1990, which has reduced some of his physical activity. He continues "on the go" sledding, motorcycling and sailing. He and his wife Ruth, who has illustrated some of his books, currently live in La Luz, New Mexico and Minnesota.
    His novels are excellent examples of the person vs. nature plot in young adult novels. His action stories contain survival, including obstacles such as alcoholism, death or surviving in the wilderness. He is visual in his writing style and uses setting effectively and realistically. Most of his main characters are not from perfect families much like his and usually find someone such as a member of the extended family to turn to.  He challenges his readers to pursue knowledge and crave a hunger for more information.
    Gary Paulsen was the recipient of the 1997 Margaret A. Edwards Award for his lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.  The author has also written two plays, several hundred magazine articles, short stories, and a variety of nonfiction books. He loves to write for young people and help them to be more creative.
 
 

Classroom Connections

Social Studies-  After reading Nightjohn, the class will do a unit on slavery.  Finding out how long slavery went on for, where the slaves came from and their lifestyle.  Nightjohn was able to escape a couple of times.  So the students will also study the Underground Railroad.

Language Arts-  Write a continuous journal entry throughout the reading of Nightjohn to show students' understanding of slavery and text.

Reading-  Have the students the sequel, Sarny, and have them break up into literature circles to discuss themes and characters.

Science-  The plantations raised many crops such as tobacco, corn and cotton.  Get corn seeds and have experiments with them.  Have the students grown them in different environments to see which way they grow better and faster.

OTHER BOOKS BY GARY PAULSEN

The Boy Who Owned the School-1991
Cook Camp-1992
Cowpokes and Desperadoes-1994
Danger in Midnight River-1995
Captive-1996
The Creature of Black Water Lake-1997
Curse of the Ruins-1999

Web activities

These sites are related to slavery:

 
http://amistad.mysticseaport.org/timeline/atlantic.slave.trade.html
http://bacon.gmu.edu/mmts/slrelate.html


Using these pages, students could research slavery and it's impact on the United States and our unity, or lack thereof.  What was the daily life of a slave like?  Did those who were not slaves do anything to help those who were?  If you lived in that time, how would have handled the situation?  Could this ever happen again?  Students could research a particular slave, describe his or her life, and tell why this particular person influenced them.

These sites are related to discrimination:

http://www.aadap.org/Default.shtml
http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/employment-discrimination.html
Using these pages, students could research the impact slavery has on today's society, and it's relationship to discrimination.  How are people discriminated against today?  Why do you think this is so?  Is there anything we can do to help or prevent this situation?  Have you or anyone you know had to deal with discrimination?  How did it make you feel?  What did you do to handle it or fight back?
Related Websites
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Heather Holden                   Classroom Connnections
Rhiannon O'Neal                   List of Related Books
Molly Coy                                   Web Activities
Rick Tubman                              AuthorStudy

Revised by                                 Maria Hubbs and Charles Friedel