Book Report #1

Nancy Ladd

 

Section 1: Bibliographic Information

Title and Author: Black Pearl by Scott O’Dell

Publication Information: Published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. Represented by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1977, original print 1967.

Genre: Fiction book about bragging, family, thieves, the luck of the draw, and fantasy.

Readability: Grade level 7 – 12

Interest Level: Ages 12 – 20

Section 2: Reviews
  1. Taken from an American Library Associations Notable Books

    2. "A gripping story that will hold practically any age enthralled and so well written that it can be read aloud with pleasure"

  2. Taken from Newbery Honor Book

    3. "The story elements rhythmic writing, and the gravity of tone induce comparison to classic myth"

  3. Taken from the School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

    4. "Graceful, haunting tale of reason and superstition"

    Section 3: Awards and Notable Lists
    1. O’Dell received the Newbery Medal award. an award given by the Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor books. Named after John Newbery, the famous eighteenth-century publisher and seller of children’s books in England. The first of these awards was given in 1921 and have come to represent the best in children’s literature. Scott O’Dell was one of America’s most respected writers for young people – winner of the Newbery Medal for "Island of the Blue Dolphins" and recipient of three subsequent Newbery honors as well as of the Hans Christian Anderson Medal, the Regina Medal, and the German Jugendbuchpreis – known for his historical novels for children. 1968 – taken from Newbery Honor Book list.

    Section 4: Author Information

    O’Dell was a writer who wanted to write for and to please youth many of the books he wrote delta with the sea and taught morals. Many of his works are set in Mexico and Southern California.

    Taken from the World Book Encyclopedia, 1999 and the book "Black Pearl" cover page.

    Section 5: Plot Summary

    This is the story of sixteen-year-old Ramon, who loves with his family in La Paz, in Baja, California-Mexico. When Ramon’s father, Blas Salazar, the most famous pearl dealer in the region, makes his son a partner in the business, it is the happiest day of his life.

    Gaspar Ruiz, known as the "Sevillano," is the Salazar’s best driver. The Sevillano, however, is a braggart who continually boasts of his great achievements. Ramon believes the Sevillano directs his tales to him more than to anyone else.

    Ramon’s dream is to find a pearl so large that the Sevillano will have to treat him with respect. To achieve this goal Ramon convinces Soto Luzon, who sells pearls to his father, to teach him to dive for pearls in his lagoon. Soto Luzon, a superstitious Indian, informs Ramon that the Manta Diablo, a giant manta, lives in a cave in the lagoon. Ramon continues to practice his diving in the lagoon, however, and on the fourth day his dream comes true – he finds the great Pearl of Heaven. Although Ramon offers to share his good fortune with the Indian, Soto Luzon refuses insisting that the pearl belongs to the Manta Diablo. He warns Ramon that Manta will want it back.

    The discovery of the pearl brings much excitement to the Salazar family and town of La Paz. Ramon’s father decides to give the pearl to the church after and unpleasant and unsuccessful attempt to sell it. It is his hope that the gesture will insure protection for his fleet. On his next trip to sea, the fleet is destroyed during a storm. Blas Salazar and all of his men but one are drowned; the only survivor is Sevillano.

    When Ramon learns of the tragedy, he realizes that the Indian was right and he decides to return the pearl to the Manta Diablo. Taking the pearl from the church, he sets out by boat for the lagoon. The Sevillano who is determined to have the pearl soon overtakes him. The Manta Diablo appears in the water and circles the boat. The Sevillano harpoons the creature, but in the act is caught in the rope and drowned. Ramon makes his way back to La Paz and returns the pearl to the church.

    Section 6: Booktalks

    Booktalk #1

    The book "Black Pearl" is written by Scott O’Dell and is geared toward those who appreciate a thing of beauty. How many of you have seen or own pearls? (7 – 12th grade)

    Imagine you find the largest black pearl anyone has ever seen. In this book this dream comes true. A young boy named Ramon finds the pearl of all pearls – the Pearl of Heaven. Just as you might cherish your pearls, Ramon cherishes the one he finds. He knows how to appreciate the size of pearls, because his father has found several smaller cultured pearls while working the sea for oysters.

    Ramon has learned how a foreign object, usually a grain of sand within the oyster forms the pearl. He also knows the qualities, as well as size, make a pearl valuable. Ramon is filled with wonder and excitement when he finds and holds the beautiful black pearl a true gem of luster and beauty and a large gem of luster and beauty.

    Can you imagine wearing such a jewel? Can you even imagine owning such a jewel? What would you do with it? The last two questions are ones Ramon asks himself. He knows many people would like to own this "beauty". He knows they would not stop at nothing to own such a pearl.

    What does his father tell him to do with the pearl? What unexpected thing happens to the pearl? For these answers read, "Black Pearl" by Scott O’Dell.

    Visual Props:

    1. Show the students an oyster shell, insert clay in the shell, show how a piece of sand may get in the shell, roll the clay around the grain of sand to let students see how and actual pearl is formed.
    2. Show students the difference in cultured salt water pearls, fresh water pearls, simulated pearls and the different colors of pearls.
    3. On a large sheet of poster board draw the inside of an oyster shell and label the parts.
    4. Let students tell of things they know pearls are used for.
    5. Quote them several prices of each type pearl you showed them in No. 2.

    List of Needed Materials:

    1. Oyster shell

      2. Clay

      Sand

    2. String of cultured salt water pearls, one of freshwater pearls, one of stimulated pearls, and string of different colored pearls.
    3. Large sheet of poster board, markers for drawing, biology books to show example of parts inside an oyster.
    4. List of prices of pearl items.

    Booktalk #2

    The book "Black Pearl" is written by Scott O’Dell and is geared toward those who enjoy stories of fantasy and good luck.

    The story is about faith, luck, a small town, and a make-believe sea animal known as a Manta Diablo.

    This book takes place on the very tip of the peninsula in Baja California, just across a cove from Mexico. It brings you face to face with a boy who has a great dream, an Indian that is very superstitious, a father with faith in a large black pearl, a less than honest driver, an unusual sea animal, and the "Pearl of Heaven".

    A young boy learns about oysters, pearls, and the using of a fleet to capture the oysters. He has a dream of finding a pearl of luster, beauty, and in a shade of black. He had a friend, Soto Luzon, which allows him to search his lagoon for the answer to his dream. His father’s driver, Sevillano, taunts the boy. The boy, Ramon, thinks by finding the pearl Sevillano will treat him with respect. Sevillano insults Ramon and throws insults at him. Ramon’s desire is to fight Sevillano, but he believes this would result in dishonor to his family.

    Ramon wants Soto Luzon, a superstitious Indian to teach him how to dive for pearls. Upon learning to dive he searches Soto Luzon’s lagoon. Ramon is aware of an animal that lives in a cave in the lagoon. This animal is a giant manta, known as Manta Diablo. Manta Diablo is the true guardian of a large black pearl. When Ramon finds this jewel he offers to share his wealth with the Indian, Soto Luzon. Luzon declines the offer. He does so because he had a great respect for the manta. Ramon’s father has Ramon take the pearl to the church. He has faith that the pearl will help protect his fleet of ships. On the next voyage out his complete fleet is destroyed. Ramon responds to his father’s death by taking the pearl from the church. He plans to return it to Manta Diablo. A strange turn of events takes place, as the pearl becomes the target of a thief. To find out how this story ends read "Black Pearl" by Scott O’Dell.

    Visual Props:

    1. The teacher’s visual idea of what a Manta Diablo looks like.
    2. A map shoeing the exact location of La Paz in relation to California and Mexico.

    List of Needed Materials:

    1. Poster board
    2. Color Markers
    3. Mop of southern California and southwestern Mexico

     

    Section 7: Curriculum Implementation

    Lesson Plan #1

    1. Use introduction of book as used in Booktalk #1.
    2. Have students become familiar with new words in the text. Give students material to reinforce these words and meanings.
    3. Write 4 higher order questions on the board. Ask students to reply orally and in written form.
    4. As a literary devise have students to respond to a point-of-view question concerning author and/or characters.
    5. Explain the meaning of simile. Use the example: With these teeth he [the Manta Diablo] would snap my bones like sticks. Ask:
      1. What is being compared?
      2. Why is this more effective than saying, "The Manta had strong teeth and jaws?
    6. As a writing activity: Have the students write about something they treasure or any "good luck" that has come to them.
    7. Have the class discuss:
      1. How they believe Ramon should have felt at the fiesta?
      2. Do you think Ramon’s father was aware that the 3.5-carat pearl had a flaw?
      3. Was Sevillano aware of the flaw? What part of the story gives you the above answer?
    8. Incorporate another subject:

    Math – Give the students the following questions:

    If the pearl on Ramon’s desk weighs 35 grains, or 8.7 carats, how many grains are there in each carat? How many grains are there in the amber, pear-shaped pearl that weighs 3.3 carats? (Round out you answers to the nearest one tenth.)

    Re-teaching Lesson Plan #1

    1. Review new words and their meanings.
    2. Orally ask students about parts of the book. If there is a part of the book they don’t seem to understand reread this part to the students and then restate the question.

    Lesson Plan #2

    1. Discuss new vocabulary words and have students look them up in the dictionary and define them.
    2. When students complete no. 1, read a word aloud and let them orally give you the definitions in their own words and make a sentence with the word.
    3. Have students give a response to the following statement. What did Ramon mean by saying this,

      4. "I said a prayer for the Manta Diablo, that creature of beauty and evil whom only two have seen with their eyes, through there are many who say they have and who everyone in this life at sometime comes to know."

    4. Research a real monster such as Big Foot or the Lock Ness monster that you have heard about.

    Re-teaching Lesson Plan #2

    1. Have students compare and contrast the way Ramon’s father acted in the storm with the way the Sevillano tried to defeat the manta. Whose protection did each depend upon? Why did each of them fail?
    2. Rewrite the ending of the story with one of the four suggestions below-
      1. The Sevillano killed the Manta Diablo and lived
      2. Ramon killed the Sevillano
      3. Ramon decided to stay on the Island of Los Muertos
      4. Ramon and the Sevillano reached the City of Guaymas

    Section 8: Material on Similar Themes
    1. Brittainc, Bill. The Wish Giver. Harper-Collins.
    2. Buck, Pearl S. The Big Wave. Harper-Collins.
    3. Haugaard, Erik Christian. Under the Black Flag. Roberts Rinehart.
    4. Hemingway, Earnest. The old Man and the Sea. Macmillan.
    5. Krumgold, Joseph. And Now Miguel….. Harper-Collins.
    6. Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabilhia. Harper-Collins.
    7. Rawls, Wilson. Where the Red Fern Grows. Bantam.
    8. Steinbeck, John. The Pearl. Penguin.
    9. Stevenson, Robert Lewis. Treasure Island. Dell.
    10. Swarthout, Glendon. Bless the Beasts and Children. Simon and Schuster.
    11. Taylor, Theodore. The Cay. Avon.
    12. Zindel, Paul. The Pigman. Bantam.

    Taken from – Learning Links Inc.

     

     

    Section 9: Bibliography of Material by Same Author

    Books by Scott O’Dell:

    1. Black Star, Bright Dawn. Fawcett
    2. Carlota. Dell
    3. The Castle in the Sea. Fawcett.
    4. Island of the Blue Dolphins. Dell
    5. Kathleen, Please Come home. Dell
    6. The King’s Fifth. Houghton Mifflin.
    7. Sarah Bishop. Haughton Mifflin.
    8. Sing Down the Moon. Dell
    9. The Two Hundred Ninety. Haughton Mifflin.
    10. Zia. Dell.

    Taken from – Learning Links Inc.