Relationships

= **RELATIONSHIPS** =

**by Livia Emrich**

 * __Books about Relationships:__ **


 * Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes **** by Chris Crutcher **

Publisher: Greenwillow Books New York, 1993 ISBN: 0-06-009489-3304 pages

//Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes// deals with the issue of friendship, loyalty and trust, but also with the issue of developing an understanding of who you are. The novel is as well referring to the topic of being an outcastand standing up for what is right. It also deals with the topics of free speech and moral values. Thus, I believe that many students can relate to it. In my opinion, this novel can really touch the reader’s heart.

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 * Just Listen by Sarah Dessen **

Publisher: Penguin Group, 2006 ISBN:978-0142410974 400 pages

//Just Listen// deals with many different kinds of relationships: within Annabel’s family, to her mother, sister, and friends. Just Listen is a novel about finding one’s self, which can also be seen as a kind of relationship. The novel also reveals the darker history of sexuality, as well as the value of honesty. //Just Listen// shows that life has always new turns, that people aren't always what they seem to be and that even 'perfect' people have problems.


 * Lie by Caroline Bock **

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin ISBN: 987-0-312-66832-7 224 pages

//Lie// deals with many important topics, which I regard as relevant for students. It is a novel about truths and lies, about racism and power. It takes you in the heart of the characters and thus, shows what consequences one lie can have. It also focuses on the issues of immigration, race and tolerance. In my opinion, //Lie// can lead to many interesting discussions questioning what is right and what is wrong in life.


 * The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf **

Publisher: Mira, 2009 ISBN: 978-0778327400 373 pages

// The Weight of Silence // is a novel that focuses on relationships between married couples, friends and siblings. The novel is a tense dark family drama, but it focuses on survival, forgiveness and honesty rather than on victimization. The narrative rotates between various points of view, which makes it even more interesting.


 * Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen **

Publisher: Random House, 2001 ISBN**:** 978-0375825446 212 pages

//Flipped// is about the relationship of a boy and a girl, which have known each other since they were little children.It is written in a he-said she-said style, which makes it very interesting. //Flipped// is an entertaining and funny story, but it also touches on some important themes, such as mental disability, character and how we judge others.


 * __ A POEM ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP __**

// Clinical Romance by Erich Kästner //

 When they had been acquainted eight years  (and one could say they were well-acquainted),  they lost their love abruptly.  Like others lose a walking stick or a hat.

 They were sad, deceiving with a smile,  trying kisses, like nothing was wrong,  and they knew it and were clueless.  Eventually she broke down. And he stood by her.

 From the window one could wave to the ships.  He said it's about quarter after four  and time to get coffee somewhere.  Nearby somebody practiced piano.

 They went to the smallest café in town  and stirred in their coffee cups.  At nightfall they sat there still. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> They sat alone, and they didn't say a word <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and simply couldn't comprehend.

__**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">ACTIVITIES: **__

¢ **__ The Jigsaw Classroom ACTIVTY: __**

//As the teacher, provide questions about the text. Students have to get together in pairs of 5-6// //and each student in each jigsaw group has to answer one question. Afterwards, form temporary// //"expert groups" by having one student from each jigsaw group join other students assigned to// //the same question. Give students in these expert groups time to discuss the main points of their// //segment. Bring the students back into their jigsaw groups and let them present their results.//

The activity is a remarkably efficient way to learn the material. It also encourages listening, engagement, and empathy by giving each member of the group an essential part to play in the academic activity. Group members must work together as a team to accomplish a common goal and each student depends on all the other students.

¢ **__ The Talkshow ACTIVITY: __**

//Volunteers will represent guests in a talkshow. One anchorman is needed to lead the discussion. One guest has to be a character out of a novel and the other ones will// //represent people who have to say something about one of the novel‘s topics. The rest of the class will be the audience, which can also make statements.//

This activity shows the understanding to the text and the text‘s messages. Students also learn to answer to questions directly and to discuss in an appropriate way.

¢ **__ The Freeze Frame ACTIVITY: __**

//Students have to get together in pairs of 3-4 and choose a scene out of the novel. Afterwards, they have to do illustrate it as it would be in a picture frame.//

Through this activity, students will be able to express ideas non-verbally. They will also be able to express character and mood by using body language and facial expressions. It will demonstrate the understanding of the text itself.