From the Bookshelf of ENGL 3390: Great Works for Middle Grades Spring 2012…
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Witness is a novel set in a small town in 1924 Vermont. It is told from eleven different characters’ points of view. The Ku Klux Klan moves into this town leaving the citizens to decide how they feel about the Klan’s presence. Each of the characters has their own perspective. While some immediately have doubts, fears, or anger, some are looking to the K.K.K as being of strong family values and hope for their community. However, after being asked to do some morally questionable tasks as well as t
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Witness is a novel written by Anne Hesse. The book takes place in the 1920’s amidst the Prohibition. The book is characterized by the heavy influence of the Ku Klux Klan and how each of the characters feels about it. The readers see racism, unlikely friendships, hardships, and realizations throughout the novel.
The book is arranged into five acts, with about ten different speaking characters. Other characters are referred to by the main characters, like Ira Hirsh, but have no speaking parts. Eac ...more
The book is arranged into five acts, with about ten different speaking characters. Other characters are referred to by the main characters, like Ira Hirsh, but have no speaking parts. Eac ...more
Witness by Karen Hesse encompasses the stories of eleven townspeople living in a small town plagued by the presence of the Ku Klux Klan in Vermont in the 20's. The eleven different viewpoints offer insight into the different beliefs of the townspeople and helps the reader really connect to the society and how it operates.
The book is separated into five acts and is written in a poetic form, which for me was one downfall to the novel. I found that the separation of characters viewpoints with the ...more
The book is separated into five acts and is written in a poetic form, which for me was one downfall to the novel. I found that the separation of characters viewpoints with the ...more
When I first started rading this book I was a little ambivalent about the format in which it was written. I am not a big fan of poetry, but after reading the first couple of pages I realized that this novel, Witness, by Karen Hesse was wonderfully written. I actually enjoyed it! Not only is it a fast read that can be read in an hour or two, the topics are real and the characters are relatable and believable. The way that Hesse presents the story keeps it interesting and majority of the poems th
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Witness is a story set in a small town in Vermont during 1924. Eleven characters throughout the book individually tell a story of the Ku Klux Klan entering Vermont. Witness seemed to have only taken place within a few months. Each character tells his/her opinion of the Klan, other characters, and happenings of the town. At times this book seems like a mesh of journal entries written by the characters. There is no character development only fictional facts. Occasionally I forgot that I was readin
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Feb 15, 2012
Cassandra Wright
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