The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

Neil Armstrong is My Uncle & Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me By: Nan Marino Interactive Novel

PowerPoint Power Point Presentation created by Stacey Graham

Synopsis  "Muscle Man McGinty is a squirrelly runt, a lying

snake, and a pitiful excuse for a ten-year old......the problem is that no one knows it but me. In the entire town of Massapequa Park, only I can see him for what he really is. A phony.  It's the summer of 1969, and things are not only

changing in Tamara's little Long Island town, but in the world. Perhaps Tamara could stand to take one small step toward a bit of compassion and understanding?

Cover Talk 

Based on the cover of the book, answer the following questions:

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In what time period does the story take place, in your opinion? Why?

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What can you predict about the main character in the book? Why?

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What can you predict about the themes in the book? Why?

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Why do you think the author used this color scheme?

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Why do you think the author used this font for the title?

Setting

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The story takes place in Massapequa, New York during the summer of 1969.

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It begins on the first day of summer, marked by the much anticipated arrival of the ice cream truck.

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Most events of the story take place in and around the neighborhood where the main characters live.

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How does the setting (the when and where of the story) effect the main character? Why?

Man on the Moon In the Summer of 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. He said the historic words, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." What did he mean by this statement? Why do you think the astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, referred to the moon as “magnificient desolation”? How does this statement connect to the story, in your opinion?

Initiating Event 

What is it? The events or actions that set further events in the story in motion.

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The initiating event in the story occurs in the beginning few chapters. It is when ice cream truck arrives in their neighborhood signaling he beginning of their summer. The rest of the story is focused upon the events that occur during this memorable summer and how these events impact the characters in the story. Why is the summer so important to kids? How do you feel about your summers? Why?

Main Characters Character Description

Character Sketch

*Don’t forget to add a border of objects associated with the character you choose to describe and sketch!

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The main characters are Tamara and Muscle Man McGinty.

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Other characters include: the other kids in the neighborhood (MaryBeth, Billy, Big Danny), Tamara’s mom and brother, and various adults from their neighborhood (Mr. Pizzarelli).

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Choose one character to describe in as much detail as possible and draw a sketch of this character. Include a border of objects associated with this character.

Protagonist and Antagonist 

What is the protagonist? The protagonist is the main character of the story, everything in the story revolves around him/her/it.

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Who is the protagonist of this story? Why?

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What is the antagonist? The antagonist is the character (or force) that opposes the protagonist.

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Who (or what) is the antagonist of this story? Why? Some would argue the antagonist of this story is a force acting against the characters and not a person. Why is this? Which do you think it is? Why?

Rising Actions 

What is it? The series of events that lead to the climax of the story, usually the conflicts or struggles of the protagonist.

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Rising actions occur between the Initiating Event and the Climax.

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Work with a partner and answer the following question: What are at least 4 rising actions that lead us toward the climax in this story? Why?

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Climax

What is it?

The climax of the story is when the conflict of the plot is resolved. It is often the most exciting part of the story. It is sometimes referred to as the “turning point” of the story, when the plot changes for better or worse for the protagonist, or main character. Often, the antagonist is defeated in the climax.

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What is the climax of this story, in your opinion? Why?

Falling Actions 

What is it? Falling action is what results from the climax and how the characters deal with it.

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Falling actions occur between the climax and the resolution of the story.

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Work with a partner and answer the following question: What are at least 2 falling actions that lead us away from the climax in this story? Why?

Resolution 

What is it?

It is the end of the story and it occurs after the climax. It is when you learn what happens to the characters after the conflict has been resolved. 

What happens to Tamara and Douglas at the end of the book? Why?

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Do you think their relationship with one another will remain the same? Why or why not?

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Write a short epilogue for this book explaining what you think will happen to the main characters after the story ends.

Mood 

What is it? It refers to the general feeling the reader gets when reading the story.

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What is the mood of the story, in your opinion? Why?

Themes 

What is it? The theme of a story is what the author is trying to convey — in other words, the central idea of the story. Short stories often have just one theme, whereas novels usually have multiple themes. The theme of a story is woven all the way through the story, and the characters' actions, interactions, and motivations all reflect the story's theme.

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What are the themes in this story, in your opinion? Why?

Genre 

This book is a work of Historical Fiction.

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What is Historical Fiction?

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Historical Fiction—Stories which take place in a particular time period in the past. Often the basic setting is real, but the characters are fictional. Readers can gain an understanding of the past and relive past events vicariously. Some of the events in historical fiction books could actually have occurred. There are also real people written in as characters in some books of historical fiction. What other books of this genre have you read?

Author Information 

Nan Marino grew up in Massapequa, New York, the same town as Jerry Seinfeld, the Baldwin brothers, and the musical group, The Stray Cats. Nan spent her childhood daydreaming in oak trees and on top of garage roofs. She did come down to earth for an occasional game of kickball. A librarian with degrees in library science and educational technology, Nan lives at the Jersey shore, with her husband and a very energetic dog.

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What else would you like to know about this author?

Cover Analysis  After

reading the book, reevaluate the cover and answer the following questions:

1.Is this a good cover design, in your opinion? Why or why not? 2.Why do you think the publisher chose this particular cover design? 3.What clues about the story does this cover provide?

Reviews and Recommendations Some of the reviews written for this book, include: 

"Nan Marino may be a debut author, but she's obviously a born storyteller. You will immediately feel at home with her characters, you'll ache right along with them, and you won't be able to leave their stories behind." - Patricia Reilly Giff

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*Starred Review* It is rare to have a story told with sympathy from the viewpoint of a bully. This debut novel, set in upstate New York in the summer of 1969, does just that with wit and a light touch that never denies the story’s sorrows. Tammy, 10, is stuck at home with her cold parents while her brother is away in Vietnam. In her first-person narrative, she reveals the hurt and loneliness that fuel her anger as she targets the new, skinny kid, Douglas, who has moved into a foster home on the block. She mocks him for telling wild lies: he is training for the Olympics; his uncle is Neil Armstrong, about to walk on the moon; and more. The other kids, including the snotty girls from the loving family next door, let him be. Why is Tammy so furious? Gradually the reader sees that she blames Douglas for the disappearance of her beloved only friend, a foster kid who moved away without telling Tammy why and where she was going. Douglas is a bit too nice, but he messes up when he tries to help Tammy, and many readers will recognize the muddled and caring gestures among friends and enemies. Grades 3-6. --Hazel Rochman

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Write your own recommendation for this book. Who do you think should read this book? Why?

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Give a star rating:

Visit the Website 

If you would like to explore the world of Nan Marino and see the other books she has written, you can visit the author’s website!

http://www.nanmarino.com/ The site has a lot of great places to explore! Including a blog by the author. See below!

Welcome to Ramble Street Ramble Street is a location in my debut middle-grade novel. It's also the place on the world wide web where I get to, well, ramble... Taken from: http://nanmarino.blogspot.com/