Phoenix
Rising
by Karen Hesse
Phoenix
Rising
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A School Library Journal Best Book An ALA Best Book for Young Adults |
Entire page edited by:
Elizabeth Iannelli & Nathan Wright
Phoenix Rising,
by Karen Hesse, is a science fiction novel dealing with an accident that
occurs at a local nuclear power plant.
The main characters include:
13 year old Nyle, Nyle's grandmother, 15 year old Ezra, and Ezra's mother.
Both Ezra and his mother have been exposed to the radiation released by
the accident that took place at the nuclear power plant. Many other
people in the community/area are also ill, and the hospitals are swamped
with all the patients who have radiation poisioning. Therefore, Nyle's
grandmother takes the boy and his mother into her house and cares for them
in secret, in spite of Nyle's hesitation. Nyle is hesitant because
Ezra and his mother would be living in the back room of the house that
is nearly sacred to Nyle, as that is where Nyle's mother died seven years
ago, and Nyle's grandfather died two years ago.
Nyle and Ezra end up
forming a friendship that must be kept secret, because people in the community
are afraid of those who have been exposed to the radiation. Nyle's
keeping of this secret also causes a problem between her and her best friend
Muncie. Also, the bully of the story, Ripley Powers, plays a large
part in strengthening the relationship between Ezra and Nyle as the novel
progresses.
Eventually, Nyle notices
that Ezra doesn't seem to be getting any better, but is instead getting
worse. This is a mystery that no one seems able to figure out.
When the extent of Ezra's illness is finally revealed, the story intensifies
dramatically as does the relationship between Nyle and Ezra. As it
turns out, their friendship becomes an important medicine for both.
Karen Hesse was born on August 29, 1952 in Baltimore, Maryland. While growing up she dreamed of becoming many things including an archaeologist, an ambassador, and an actor. She began to dream of becoming an author at the age of ten when her fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Datnoff, praised her for being, "good with words." Thirty years later, in 1991, her dream came true with the publication of her first novel.
Karen Hesse began her college career as a theater major at Towson State, but transferred to the University of Maryland a year later. She graduated the University of Maryland with a B.A. in English and a double minor in Psychology and Anthropology.
Now Karen Hesse lives in southern Vermont with her husband and two teenage daughters. Other books by Karen Hesse include:
Social Studies- Divide the class in half and have each group research either Three Mile Island or Chernobyl and come up with a timeline from when the power plant opened to when the nuclear accident occured. Then have the class come together to share their information.
Literature- Make a list anti-utopian novels, and then have the students read one and then compare and contrast that book with the ideas presented in Phoenix Rising.
Science- Have students investigate the after-effects of a nuclear meltdown and how the meltdown affects the various aspects of the surrounding environment (water, air, earth, and ecosystems).
Other books dealing with Nuclear Radiation:
Imagine that the town
you live in is considering building a nuclear power plant. As a reporter
for the local newspaper you are assigned to write an article to inform
the community about an existing power plants to run in a series about current
nuclear power plants. You are assigned to provide the community with an
unbiased report on Three Mile Island in PA.
Your article must
include:
-General info about the nuclear power plant
-The accident
-Immediate problems
-Current problems/conditions
-Probable and possible future problems
You will work in groups
to create this project.
One person will research___________
Another will research____________
The final person will
serve as the story editor/typist to combine all the research into an article.
The two researchers
will proofread and edit the article.
All group members
must agree on the final product.
Use the links below or other search engines to help you find information.
Meltdown at Three Mile IslandPart of the above news articles may show that Three Mile Island was not the last nuclear accident to occur:
This site can tell you about what happened on that fateful day. It has transcripts of interviews that took place so long ago. This site has pictures that you may want to use.More information about Three Mile Island
A Nuclear Nightmare in Pennsylvania
This site shows you the coverage that the Washington Post did on this disaster. This has pictures that may be used.
Chernobyl: TIME Magazine Coverage
