This novel takes the reader on a fascinating tour of small towns, big cities, and places in between. It also deals with the heights to which the human spirit can soar and the depths to which it can fall. This finely crafted story uses flashbacks and various points of view to draw the reader into the lives of the people in the small town of Whistle Stop, Alabama. Past and present complement each other as a picture is drawn of people who care for each other, survive tragedies, share triumphs, and testify to the complexity of the human condition.
Lessons examine the literary concepts of narration, point of view, setting, regional novel, characterization, flashback, foreshadowing, symbolism, and conflict. As students address these concepts, they participate in reading activities, questioning, writing, charting, and interpreting.
Supplementary materials include essay topics and an objective test with answer key.
