Life as We Knew It

Vocabulary Word

genre

• a classification of literature

• Echohawk is historical fiction

• Life as We Knew It is science fiction

science fiction

• a created work of literature that is deals with the impact of actual or imagined science on society

• Life as We Knew It is science fiction

• Star Wars is science fiction

young adult literature

• literature that is written for teenagers

• Life as We Knew It and Echohawk are both part of this genre as well

setting

• the time and place (where and when) of the story

• Life as We Knew It is set in modern times in Pennsylvania

character

• a person or animal in the story

• Miranda

• Mrs. Nesbitt

• Johnny and others from Life as We Knew It

characterization

• the way the author describes the character

• Johnny is described as 13 years old, a baseball player that will be attending a baseball summer camp, the younger brother

• One of the traits of Miranda’s Mom and Dad is that they wanted it to be a “good divorce” for the kids

indirect characterization

• when the author uses character’s actions and dialogue to show you their traits

• On page 2 Lisa asks Miranda to be the godmother to their baby without ever asking the Miranda’s dad. This shows that she is friendly and wants to try with Miranda. It also shows that she acts before thinking.

direct characterization

• when the author states/tell you the character’s traits

• “Here I am in my junior year of high school and these are supposed to ne the best years of my life and I’m just stuck.” page 6 – Pfeffer tells us that Miranda is a junior and that she is having issues with her friends.

point of view

• Perspective from which the story is told

• Echohawk was told in third person

first person point of view

• when a character within the story is telling the story

• Who is telling Life as We Knew It? How do you know?