Questions About Drowning Ruth

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I am halfway through, and I don't get a clear sense of the time period. There is mention of photographs taken when Mattie is born. I would not have thought this farming family could have afforded photographs in what would have been 1892-ish. Does anyone know whether that's realistic?

Mishael There's mention of a Brownie camera, which was a very inexpensive camera made around the turn of the 20th century. It's not outside the realm of possi…moreThere's mention of a Brownie camera, which was a very inexpensive camera made around the turn of the 20th century. It's not outside the realm of possibility that even a poor farming family would own such a camera, especially if they'd had one or two good crop years.

My own poor farming ancestors had pictures taken of them in the late 1800s. Studio pictures at the time weren't exactly cheap (about $50 in today's money for a dozen). Still, I guess if you wanted a picture badly enough, there were ways you could save, barter, or sell something to get one. (less)

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Lwilé Seriously???!!!!!!! Spoiler alert man. I just got this book and wanted to check out ratings and then I see this!!!!! Not cool. Not cool at all!!

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What qualities or lack of quality do I need to know? I have a student (7th grade) asking for permission to read this book, and I am having trouble finding the nitty gritty of what I need to know!

Mishael I know this an old question, but I'm going to answer it anyway. The answer might help others in the future with a similar question.

As I'm not exactly…moreI know this an old question, but I'm going to answer it anyway. The answer might help others in the future with a similar question.

As I'm not exactly sure what it is you need to know regarding teaching standards/expectations/etc., I can only provide a general answer based on my own experience of this book and American literature as a whole.

There is nothing in this book that would be inappropriate for a seventh-grade student to read. So, you're fine there.

Honestly, this book reminds me a lot of a John Steinbeck or Theodore Dreiser novel - American naturalism/realism at its finest. For that reason alone, I would say this book would provide an entertaining read for any seventh-grade examination of broad literary themes like family, relationships, characterization, and motivation. Basically, why people do what they do and how nature can play a part in the decisions they make.

This book also lends itself easily to discussions of conflict struggles like man vs. nature, man vs. self, man vs. man, and man vs. society.

So, yes. I think this book could make an excellent educational read for your seventh-grade students.(less)

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Mishael

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