Name: Class: Date:

Pearl Verses the World ResearchBy Sally Murphy

1. Look at the cover of Pearl Verses the World. The word ‘verses’ is a pun.

a. What does this word, ‘verses’, mean?

b. What is another word that sounds the same as ‘verses’? What does this word mean?

c. Now look up the meaning of the word, ‘pun’. What does this mean?

d. Look at Pearl sitting on top of the world. What first impressions to you have about this book and about Pearl?

e. Name 4 different countries you can see on the globe on the cover.

2. Read this blurb from Walker Books about Pearl Verses the World.

Pearl Verses the World is a moving illustrated verse novel about a girl dealing with isolation at school, and with her grandma’s illness at home.At school, Pearl feels as though she is in a group of one. Her teacher wants her to write poems that rhyme but Pearl’s poems don’t. At home, however, Pearl feels safe and loved, but her grandmother is slowly fading, and so are Mum and Pearl. When her grandmother eventually passes away, Pearl wants life to go back to the way it was and refuses to talk at the funeral. But she finds the courage to deliver a poem for her grandmother that defies her teacher’s idea of poetry – her poem doesn’t rhyme; it comes from the heart.

a. Why do you think the author chose to use a pun in the title of the book?

b. The book is written in verse but it doesn’t rhyme. Do you like this style of writing? Why/why not?

c. Did you enjoy hearing the story read aloud?

d. Does it matter that the verse doesn’t rhyme? What are the advantages of writing in this way? What are the disadvantages of writing in this way?

e. Do you think the book is going to be written by Pearl (first person using I, me, my etc) or by someone else – (third person using she, they, her etc)

f. Why did you choose this ‘voice’ – first or third person?

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Name: Class: Date:

Sally Murphy is a mother, wife, teacher, speaker, website manager, reviewer, and, of course, author. She was born in Perth and still lives in Western Australia. In 2001 she decided to dedicate herself to her dream of becoming a children’s author and has now published 27 books. Sally is also a children’s book reviewer who runs a review sitewww.aussiereviews.com.au.Heather Potter has illustrated several books for children. Heather often illustrates as a team with her husband Mark Jackson. Their first Walker Book together was the picture book Not Like Georgie by Scott Hatcher (2008). Heather lives in Melbourne.

g. Sally Murphy is the ______________ of Pearl Verses the World. She has also worked as a

………………………………………………………………………… (list 3 other jobs). She has written ______ books.h. Heather Potter is the ______________ of Pearl Verses the World. She also works with her

__________. Another book she has worked on is …………………………………..

Sally Murphy on Pearl Verses the World:“I was getting ready for bed one night when some lines of poetry came to me. I grabbed a pen and wrote them down. This happened a couple of times before I realised there might be a story happening. After a few weeks I sat down at my computer and started writing. I didn’t know where the story was going – it just evolved. Pearl was very insistent (and persistent) that I write her story.I do think the story was influenced by my own reactions to losing people I loved, and by watching other people cope with grief. When I wrote the scene where Pearl finds out her grandmother has died, I cried and cried and cried. When I was editing, I cried again every time I worked on that scene.”Classroom activities for Pearl Verses the World:Heather Potter on Pearl Verses the World:“I think the saddest moment is when Pearl looks into her grandmother’s eyes, half-believing that she’ll find something of the spirit that was once there, but those eyes have emptied as she’s fallen away. Like Pearl, we all at times dream for things that can never be.”

i. Why did Sally Murphy write this story?

j. Do you like to read sad books? Why/why not?

k. Why does Heather Potter think that the saddest thing is Pearl looking into her grandmother’s eyes? What is it that makes it so sad for Pearl, and for Heather?

l. From what you have read so far, what do you think is wrong with Pearl’s grandmother?

3. Read Page 8. Pearl says that her class is made up of groups.

a. Are there any groups at our school?

b. What are they?

c. How many people do they think you need to make up a group?

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Name: Class: Date:d. What other book have we read that was shortlisted for Book of the Year that has a group of two in

it?

e. Who is in that group in this other book? (HINT: it is the first book we read together)

4. Read page 11.

a. What type of poem does Pearl write? It is called a ___________ (HINT: starts with l____________ with 8 letters.)

b. Write you own poem in this style, about yourself.

5. Read page 13.

a. How many people live in Pearl’s house and who are the members of her family.

b. Who lives in your house?

6. Read pages 22-23, when Pearl searches for a good book.

a. What different types of books are there in our school library?

b. List your 3 favourite nonfiction types of books.

c. Now list your 3 favourite fiction types of books.

d. How does your list compare to Pearl’s list?

e. Create a Powerpoint presentation including information about the author/illustrator of this book, Pearl verses the World, or create a pamphlet/poster advertising the book.

7. Read pages 27-28, where Pearl describes that her grandmother is ill.

a. Why do they think Pearl’s granny is ill?

b. Have you ever had someone take care of you?

c. Have you ever had to take care of someone or something?

d. Define the word ‘dementia’ and research the symptoms of dementia. Write in your own words. There are some helpful resources available from the Alzheimer’s Australia website:http://www.alzheimers.org.au/content.m?infopageid=4438

e. What do you think about Pearl’s situation and how would you feel if this was happening to you? What could you do in a situation such as this to help?

8. Read page 36. “A hiss like an angry cat comes from the ballet group.” This sentence is a simile. The difference between a simile and a metaphor is a simile ‘is like’ something, a metaphor ‘is’ a

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Name: Class: Date:substitution). Write a sentence about Pearl which is a simile. Now write a sentence about yourself which is a metaphor.

9. Read pages 49-52. Pearl is given the news that her grandmother has died.

a. How does Pearl react to this situation?

b. What is the meaning of grief?

c. Underline from this list the different emotions that Pearl might be feeling at this time (you can underline more than one):

shock, sadness, fear, anger, grief, gloom, unhappiness.

d. What could be a good way for Pearl to cope with grief, e.g. talking, writing, drawing. Write a sentence saying what you think Pearl should do to help her after her grandmother dies.

10. Read page 59.

a. Why are people are bringing cards, flowers and food to Pearl’s house?

b. Discuss the word ‘compassion’ – are these people being compassionate even though it is upsetting Pearl?

11. Read pages 74-76. Pearl feels as though she is no longer in a group of one.

a. Do you think Pearl was ever in a group of one? Yes/no.

b. Do you think her loneliness made her feel this way, that she really did have friends? Yes/no.

c. Why do you think this?

12. Go to this site. Complete the Cloze passage. Copy and paste the completed Cloze here. What was your score?

Send your completed Word document to susan.crawford2@det.nsw.edu.au

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