Wolf Hollow

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.

“An Alternate Ending”

In this activity, students will recreate the final chapters of Wolf Hollow producing an alternate ending for Toby.

In the final chapters, Toby is killed because of the accusations Betty made against him. Use details from the novel to write an alternative ending for Wolf Hollow. Consider these questions as you develop your ending:

• At what point in the novel will the residents of Wolf Hollow recognize Toby’s innocence?
• What justice might you provide Toby after individuals realize they have wronged him?
• What will become of the friendship between Annabelle and Toby?
• How might Toby live out the rest of his life?
• What important lesson might the townspeople of Wolf Hollow learn from this incident?
• Identify details you used from the novel for the alternative ending to flow seamlessly.

Share your alternative ending with peers, comparing your ending to the novel’s ending.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it beneficial to analyze the points in the text that create tension so that they know where to begin the alternative ending for the story. For example, if Toby is declared innocent too soon in the novel, the students may lose the attention of their audience. Consider encouraging students to analyze important moments, such as the one in which Toby is located, to consider how the plot may have concluded differently.

Differentiation Suggestion: English Language Learners may benefit from a brief timeline of the novel’s final chapters. For instance, Chapter 24: The men go looking for Toby; Chapter 25: Betty dies; Chapter 26: Toby is cleared of suspicion but is found with his gun and shot by police; Chapter 27: Annabelle finds the war medal in Toby’s pocket.