The Red Pencil

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“A Book Jacket Exhibition”

In this activity, students will conceptualize and create book jackets for their respective copies of The Red Pencil, which they will display and discuss in a final exhibition.

The illustrations in The Red Pencil are an integral part of the story, helping bring to life how Amira visualizes the world around her and processes her different experiences. Within the story itself, art also takes on an important role, helping Amira express, work through, and heal from her trauma.

• Given the role that visual art plays both outside and within the story, conceptualize and create a new book jacket for your copy of The Red Pencil based on your reading of the book.
• Keep in mind the geographical and sociohistorical contexts of the book, as well as its different themes, as you design your cover. Your cover can represent a composite of different ideas or even your most significant takeaway from the book.
• Feel free to use any kind of media, ranging from colorful paints to black ink, or even collage work and photographs, for the front of your book jacket.
• Write a blurb—a succinct summary of the book—for the back of your book jacket without giving away any spoilers.
• Display your newly-jacketed copy of The Red Pencil alongside those of your classmates in a final exhibition.

Teaching Suggestion: Amira’s art does not merely focus on aesthetic, but freedom of expression; with this in mind, it may be helpful to encourage students to reflect on which aspects of the book they enjoyed the most, or which ideas stayed with them before they conceptualize their book jackets. The intent of creating new book jackets should not just be aesthetic, but involve meaningful expression of the students’ responses to the book. During the final exhibition, it may be interesting to note some of the similarities that crop up among the book jackets—perhaps a particular color or symbol that many students incorporate. Similarly, it may be helpful to allow each student to talk about a unique aspect of their book jacket, to take stock of the varying personal responses incited by the same book.

Differentiation Suggestion: For advanced learners, challenge them to incorporate as many aspects that a real book jacket would have, such as testimonials from others who have read the book, a short author bio, etc.