I just finished reading (Me) Moth by Amber McBride. The debut YA novel-in-verse is about a teen girl who is grieving the deaths of her family, and a teen boy, Sani who moved in with his mother and her new family. Moth lost her family in an accident and although she lives with her aunt, she feels alone.
Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. If he knows more about where he comes from, maybe he’ll be able to understand his ongoing depression. And if Moth can help him feel grounded, then perhaps she too will discover her own history.
Moth and Sani take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. The way each moves forward is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable. This is a powerfully uplifting novel about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe.
Half way through the book Moth lists the places she and Santi have planned to stop and visit on their road trip. The book continues with details about their road trip and the landmarks they explore. I love the idea of students creating a literary travel guide of the books they read.
So many of young adult books explore cities and the unique spots that’s propel the story. Consider the trip to Amsterdam Hazel and Augustus take in John Green’s Fault in our Stars trip or the importance of Central Park in New York City in The Catcher in the Rye. In fact, in Booked, author Richard Kreitner explores literary destinations filled with literary landmarks and destinations.
The assignment would require students to become the tour guides leading their fellow students on a trip through a young adult book they have read. Students are reading closely for the importance of setting in the story. Students might consider the following questions:
- How does place shape your understanding of a story?
- How do the places in your lives impact your life?
- How can place/setting impact the mood of a piece of writing?
- How does place/setting shape a character’s life?
- What works of literature have you read that you remember having an important setting?
- How does place/setting interact with other literary elements such as style, symbols and tone to create meaning for readers?
The final assignment might be a choice of a travel essay, brochure or even a television-style infomercial for their story. This project would entice would-be travelers to visit the both the physical place described in the story, as well as the literary world created by the author.
The Teaching Factor 