Download - Duffy Me Mam Me Dad Me Teachers' notes · Does Danny lie to other people? Does Danny lie to the reader? What in the text makes you trust or distrust him? On the jacket flap it says

©Zephyr,2018_________________________________________________ZEPHYR,animprintofHEADOFZEUS

5-8HardwickStreet,London,EC1R4RGRegisteredinEnglandat6thFloorCharlotteBuilding,17GresseStreet,London,W1T1QL

Companyregistrationnumber7769235VATRegistrationnumberGB122496619+44(0)2072535557www.headofzeus.com

Readers’/Teachers’Notes

MeMam.MeDad.Me.

ByMalcolmDuffy

Publicationdate:March2018

Fiction/Children’s12+•£10.99

HB:9781786697646 •E: 9781786697639 •AE: 9781788546829

WritingStyle

�StructureThetitle:MeMam.MeDad.Me.Discuss:Whatsortofbookdoyouthinkitwillbe?Whichgenre?Thinkaboutthepossessivepronouns.Whatdotheyimply?Shouldwebepossessiveofpeople?Whataboutthepunctuation?Whyhastheauthorusedfullstopsratherthancommas?Thetitleisn’tinStandardEnglish.Whataccent/dialectdoyouthinkitiswrittenin?WritingStyleDialect/AccentThebookiswritteninaGeordievernacular.Wesometimessaypeoplespeakwithan‘accent’orinacertain‘dialect’.Whatisthedifferencebetweenanaccentandadialect?Anaccentisthewaysomeone’svoicesoundswhentheytalk,thewaytheypronouncethewords.




Adialectisthewordssomeoneuseswhentheytalk.Forexample,inGeordietheyusetheword‘aye’insteadof‘yes’.StandardEnglishistheformalversionofEnglishinwhichmostnovelsarewritten.Discuss:Didyoufindithardertoaccessthebookbecauseofthedialect?WhateffectdidtheGeordiedialecthaveonyou?Whatdoesitcontributetothenovelasawhole?Somepeoplesaythattextswrittenlikethishavean‘auraleffect’sothatyoufirstperceivethewordsassounds.Doyouagree?Activity:Tryreadingapassagefromthebookoutloud.Doesitfeeldifficult/normal/easier?Doyouthinkyouhaveanaccentoruseacertaindialect?Listentothefollowingvideohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8mzWkuOxz8 Whichaccentdoyoulikebest?Thisvideoisthesamepersondoingthedifferentaccents,butlistencarefullytoeachone.Whatimpressiondotheygiveyou?WriterGeorgeBernardShawsaidintheprefaceofPygmalion,aplayinwhichaprofessorteachesacockneystreetsellertospeakasamemberofhighsociety:“ItisimpossibleforanEnglishmantoopenhismouthwithoutmakingsomeotherEnglishmanhateordespitehim.”Discuss:Doyouagreewiththis?Whydoyouthinkhesaidthis?WhydoesDannysay:“Geordiewasn’tallowedinher[AuntyTina’s]house.”(Page35)WhatdoesthisimplyaboutDanny,butalsoaboutAuntyTina?UsingDialecttoExpressCharacterUsingdialectforacharacterinanovelgivesthemaspecificgeography,class,socialbackgroundorculturestraightaway.Discuss:Thinkaboutinstancesinwhichotherwritershaveuseddialect.LookatWalter’sspeechinToKillaMockingbirdbyHarperLee:“ReckonIhave.AlmostdiedfirstyearIcometoschoolandetthempecans-folkssayhepizened‘emandput‘emoverontheschoolsideofthefence.”AndtheservantMarthainTheSecretGardenbyFrancesHodgsonBurnett:"Canna'tha'dressthysen!"and"I'llhelptheeonwiththyclothesiftha'llgetouto'bed.Ifth'buttonsareatth'backtha'cannotbuttonthemuptha'self."AndHagrid,fromHarryPotterandthePhilosopher’sStonebyJKRowling:"Awizard,o'course,"saidHagrid,sittingbackdownonthesofa,whichgroanedandsankevenlower,"an'athumpin'good'unI'dsay,onceyeh'vebeentrainedupabit.Withamuman'dadlikeyours,whatelsewouldyehbe?”Whatdoeseachtellyouaboutthatcharacter?InMeMam.MeDad.Me.DuffyusestheGeordieaccenttoplaceDannygeographically.Discuss:Whatelsedoesittellyouabouthim?Doesitmakeitfeelmorepersonal?Doesitfeelmoreauthentic?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8mzWkuOxz8




“Theauthenticityofthepiecerestsongettingthisdialogueright.”StephenKelman,authorofPigeonEnglish“WhenIfirstreadslanginfictionIthought,‘wow’.ThethingIfoundfascinatingwasthatontheonehand,itisauthentic,butitisaninventedauthenticity.”GautamMalkani,authorofLondonstaniDiscuss:WhatdoesMalkanimeanbyan‘inventedauthenticity’?Isthisacontradictioninterms? Activity:Canyouhaveagoatwritingafirstpersonaccountwithadialect?Whichdialecthaveyouchosenandwhy?Whathaveyoudonetothewordstomakethelanguageappeartobewritteninadialect?Haveyouremovedpronouns,changedvocabulary,leftoffletters?VocabularyTheGeordiedialectreplacesStandardEnglishwordswithGeordievocabulary.Activity:Havealookthroughthebookandseeifyoucanfindfivewordsthataren’t‘StandardEnglish’.Maketwocolumns-oneofGeordievocabulary,andintheothercolumn,convertthewordintoStandardEnglish.Forexample:‘marra’(Page2)BrevityMuchofDanny’snarrativecutsoutpronouns,orisextremelybriefindetail.Lookatthispassage,andspotthemissingpronouns:“‘Goaway,Danny,please.’Wantedto.Didn’t.”(Page3)Discuss:Whateffectdoesthishave?Doesitmakethefeelingsmorepowerful?DoesitgiveyouaninsightintoDanny’spersonality?Whereelseinthebookcanyoufindexampleslikethis?FirstpersonnarrativeThebookiswritteninfirstpersonnarrative,sothateverythingisseenthroughDanny’seyes,andeverythingisinhisdialect,exceptwhendirectspeechisusedbyothers.Discuss:Whoelseinthenoveltalkswithanaccentordialect?Explorewhatthatsaysabouttheircharacter?“‘Howway,Danny,let’sganhyem,’shesaid.Ihadn’theardhertalklikethatinages,likeshedidn’tcareaboutherwordsnomore.”(Page242)Discuss:WhyhasDanny’smamlapsedbackintoherGeordieaccentatthispointinthenovel?OpenerLookatthefirstsentence:“Itwasthedaytheclockswentback.”(Page1)Discuss:Whydoyouthinktheauthorusesthisconceit?Whatdoesittellyouaboutmarkingtime?Lookatthestructureofthebook.Doestheauthoruseimportantdatestomarktime?Forexample,ChapterSix,ChapterSeven,ChapterTen.Haveyouevercomeacrossanyotherbooksthatdothat?




ThefirstlineofTheCrowRoadbyIainBanks:“Itwasthedaymygrandmotherexploded.”Activity:Writeastorystarting‘Thedaythat…’whateffectdoesithaveonthereader?FirstChapterDiscuss:Whatdevicesandtechniquesdoestheauthorusetocreatedramaticeffect?Thinkaboutdialogue,thelengthofthesentences,thenumberofverbs.Nowlookatthelastlineofthefirstchapter:“That’swhenIknewIhadtokillhim.”(Page6)Lookbackatthesecondlineofthebook–whatistheeffectofthisrepetition?Thelastsentenceisacliffhanger–itleavesthereaderwantingtoknowmore.Haveyoureadotherstoriesthatdothis,orseenTVprogrammesthatdothis?Doesitbuildsuspense?Lookatotherchapterendings.(Oneexampleispage117)HowoftendoesDuffyleaveachapteronacliffhanger?Discuss:Whydoeshedothis?Ending“Youcan’tturntheclocksback.”(Page310)Discuss:Howdoesthislinktothebeginningofthebook?Doyouthinkthebookhasahappyorunhappyending?Doyouthinkitisrealistic?

Characters

�DannyThestoryiswrittenfromDanny’spointofviewinwhat’scalledafirstpersonnarrative.Firstpersonmeansthateverythingiswrittenfromthatperson’spointofview.Discuss:IsDannyareliablenarrator?DoesDannylietootherpeople?DoesDannylietothereader?Whatinthetextmakesyoutrustordistrusthim?Onthejacketflapitsays“ThingsIlearnedwhenIwasfourteen:Neverkeepsecretsfromyourgirlfriend.Nevergetintoascrapwithabiggerlad.Neverplayfootballwithablackballwhenit’sdark.Andneverletanyonehurtyourmam.Ever.”Discuss:DoyouthinkDannyreallylearnsthosethings?Whyissomethinglike“playingwithablackballwhenit’sdark”nextto“neverletanyonehurtyourmam”?WhatdoesthistellusaboutDanny?WhatdoesDannywishforatthestartofthenovel?Howhasthischangedbytheend?Activity:Canyoumakealistoftenthingsyouhavelearntinthepastyear?Arethesethesortofthingsyoulearninschooloraretheywhat’scalled‘lifelessons’?Danny’sbigpassionisfootball.LookathowoftenDuffyweavesfootballintothetext,usingfootballtodescribeDanny’sfeelings:




“Iranlikeawingerallthewaydownthestreet,withagrinaswideastheTyne.”(Page86)and“ItwaslikescoringthewinninggoalforNewcastleintheChampionsLeagueFinal,onlybetter.”(Page215)Discuss:WhatdoesittellyouaboutDanny’scharacter?WhydoesDuffydothis?Thinkabouthowfootballcangivesomeoneasenseofbelongingtoagroup,likeatribeorafamily.Activity:Isthereacommunitygroupthatyoubelongto,separatefromyourfamily?Itmaybeaclub,ahobby,areligiousgroup.Makeaposterenticingsomeonetojoinit.Isthereanemblemyoucanuse,alogo,photos?Usepersuasivelanguage.Dannyoftenuseshumourorself-deprecatinghumourinhisdescriptionsofscenes.“‘Doyouwantacupoftea,Mam?’Neverheardhersaynotoacupoftea.‘No.’Weird.”(Page3)LookatthedatewithAmyinChapterFourandthehumourintheirconversation.Discuss:WhydoesDuffymakeDannyfunny?Whateffectdoesthishaveonthereader?Callum“Itwasgood,atfirst.Heseemedsortofordinary,justanormalbloke.”(Page11)WeonlyseeCallumthroughDanny’seyes.“‘Whichteamdoyousupport?’Isaid.‘Don’t.’Explainedeverything.”(Page25)Discuss:WhatdoesDannymeanby‘explainedeverything’.WhatdoesthisshortconversationtellyouaboutbothDannyandCallum?WhydoesDannysaiditwasgoodatfirst.DoesCallumhaveanygoodfeatures?LookatwhenDannystartscallinghimFB.(Page87)Discuss:Whydoeshedothis?WhenDanny’smam’sfamilyfirstmeetCallum:“AndIthinktheylikedwhattheysaw.Hechattedawaylikemegran.”(Page34)andwithCallum’sownfamily:“EveryoneseemedtoreallylikeCallum.Maybeitwasthebeerthatwasdoingit.”(Page41)Discuss:WhydoeseveryoneelseseemtolikeCallum?WhydoesDannysay“itwasthebeer”?DoyouthinkthebookwouldbedifferentifwrittenfromDanny’smam’spointofview?WhatwouldshesayareCallum’sgoodfeatures?“‘Callumquitelikedadrink,’saidLouise.No,helovedadrink.Couldn’tgetenoughofit….Louisejoinedin.‘Policesaidsomeoneheardthemarguing.Callum’snottheargumentativetype.’Talkingclap-trap.He’darguewithalamppostwhenhewasdrunk.”(Page250)WhenCallumdies,thepaperfeaturesapictureofhim:“Madehimlooklikeanormalbloke,notone




withspitonhislipsandangryfists.”(Page263)Discuss:WhydoesCallum’sfamilyhavesuchadifferentimpressionofCallumfromDanny?Activity:Thinkabouthowyouactarounddifferentpeople.Doyoubehaveoreventalkdifferentlyinfrontofyourfriendsthanyoudowithyourparents/caregivers?Writeaparagraphdescribingyourselffromyourparents’pointofview.Thendothesame,butfromyourfriends’pointofview.MeMam“Isawhershoutatablokeinthesupermarketonce.Wasnexttothecrisps.Hehadtattoosalloverhisbaldhead.He’dbashedhertrolleybutneversaidsorry,justeyeballedher.Sheshoutedathimandcrossedherarms.Wouldn’tbackdown.Iwasdeadproudofher.”(Page3)Discuss:WhydoesDuffyhaveDannydescribeherlikethissoearlyon,as“notacissy”.“I’d’lovedtohavebeenabletolookinsidememam’sheadandseewhatshewasthinking.Istilllovehim,inspiteofeverything?Nowheknowswhatitfeelslike?Iwon’tgethitthisweek?BanggoesourholidaytoTenerife?Butherfacewasgivingnothingaway.”(Page249)Dannyfindsithardtoempathisewithhismam.Hedoesn’tunderstandwhyshecan’twalkawayfromCallum,andafterCallumhasbeenhurt,hefailstounderstandwhyshe’supset.Discuss:DoyoufindithardtofeelempathywithDanny’smam?Why?

Themes

�Wealth/Poverty“Itwasn’tlikemegran’shouse.Nogarden.Noupstairs.Itjusthadfourrooms.Five,ifyoucountthetoilet.Itgotthatcoldinthewintermemamandmewouldgetdressedforgoingout,evenwhenwewerestoppingin.”(Page9)“AuntyTina’sdifferentfromourmam.She’sgotacar,aswankyhouseandaposhvoice.AuntyTinadoesn’tliveroundhere.ShelivesovertheTyneinaplacethat’sthatbigtheyneedacleaner.”(Page9–10)“Wasbelter.Callumhadadoublegarage,agardenfrontandback,andnobodylivingontoporrightnexttohim.Reckonedhemusthavetheworld’sfastestcomputerfingerstoaffordaplacelikethat.Icouldtellmemamlovedittoo,openingandclosingalltheshinydrawersandcupboards,grinning,likeshewaswatchingkittensontheinternet.”(Page14)“AuntyTinaandUncleGregliveinDarrasHall,neartheairport.It’swherepeoplewithtonsof




moneylive,likefootballers.Someofthehousesarethatbigyoucan’tevenseethemfromtheroad.Youdon’tseeanyrubbishinthestreeteither,andpeoplebenddowntopickuptheirdogpoo.It’sthatsortofplace.”(Page34)“Wewentstraightfromoutsideintothefrontroom.Theflatwasevensmallerthantheplacememamandmeusedtolivein.”Page119“Afterthefuneral,weallwentbacktoCallum’sbrother’shouse.Itwasevenbiggerthanours.Ithadthreegarages,agardenthatlookedlikeapark,sixtoilets,andatellythesizeofaping-pongtable.”(Page267)Discuss:Dannydescribespeople’shousesbyhowbigtheyare.Whydoesitmattertohimsomuch?Lookattheabsenceofcolouroraestheticsinhisdescriptions.Doeswherepeoplelivemakeadifferencetohowyouseethem?Activity:Makealistofwhat’simportantinyourlife.Nowtickhowmanyneedmoneytomakethemhappen.Dothemajorityhaveticks?Dannyaskshismamifhecangoonschooltrip,whenshesaysno,hegoestoCallum.“He’sgotplentyofmoney.”(Page102)Discuss:DoyouthinkDannyconceivesideasofpowerfromhowmuchmoneypeoplehave?DoeswealthgiveCallumpower?MegansaystoDanny:“Yourmasentyouhere.You’reaftermoney,it’salwaysaboutmoney.’Meganlookedaroundtheflatandlaughed.‘Whatbloodymoney?’”(Page148)Discuss:Ismoneymoreimportantwhenyou’rerichorwhenyou’repoor?Activity:Imagineyouhavewonthelottery.Makealistofwhatyouwouldspenditon.Areyougivinganymoneyawayorbuyingsomethingforsomeoneelse?MotherandSon“Ireckonshe’ddoanythingforme.Alwaysgotsomethinglushtomicrowaveformetea.Alwaysletsmegoonherlaptop.Alwaysmakessuremefootballkit’sclean.Sockstherightwayround.Alwaysbuysmethetopthingoffmebirthdaylist,eventhoughIknowshe’snotminted.Andalwaysgivesmeagoodnighthug,evenwhenI’vedonenowttodeserveit.Betthere’snotmanymamsdoallthat.”(Page7)Discuss:Whatmakesagoodmother?IsDanny’smamagoodmotherinthebook?“Memamwasdoingsomethingatthesink.Thewaymamsdo.”(Page87)“Mamsarelikedetectives.Theycanspotthingsnormalpeoplecan’t.”(Page89)“Sheknows.Mamsalwaysknow.”(Page151)“Memam’sgotsixdifferentwaysofsayingmename,there’sthe‘You’ve-been-goodDanny’,the‘You’ve-been-bad-Danny’,the‘That-was-stupid-Danny’,the‘Thanks-very-much-Danny,’the‘I-don’t-know-what-you-mean-Danny’andthe‘You’re-in-big-trouble-Danny’.”(Page233)




Discuss:DoesDanny’smamalways‘know’asDannydescribes?Canshespotthingsotherscan’t?Activity:Writeapoemaboutmothersandcaregivers.DoesyourpoemdescribeanyofthesameattributesthatDannydescribes?FatherandSon“ApartfromGavin,whosaidtheSAS,andTony,whosaidhismamwasdead,everyonecameupwiththesameanswer-theirdad.”(Page67)“Mydadwasn’ttheonlyoneinshock.Iwastoo.HewasnothinglikeI’dexpectedhimtobe.Ithoughtmedadwouldbebig-everywhere.Bighead,bigarms,bigbody,thelot,liketheotherdadsyouseeatschool.”(Page118)“‘Iworkinasandwichshop.’Steviespottedmefacewasn’thappy.‘Notwhatyouthoughtyourdadwoulddo,eh?’”(Page137)Discuss:WhydoesDannythinkhisfatherwouldlookacertainway?Isitbecausehehasapre-conceivedideaofwhathewantshimtodo,ratherthanwhohewantshimtobe?Whatisanidealfather?Doesitmatterwhathelookslike?Activity:Createalistofpositiveandnegativeattributesoffathers.Activity:Re-writethesceneinwhichDannymeetshisDadforthefirsttime.(Page118onwards).ThinkabouthowDannywouldhavelikedthemeetingtobe?OrhowSteviewouldhavelikedthemeetingtobe?Whosepointofviewareyouwritingthescenefrom?“‘I’mnotjustsomebody,I’myourson.’”(Page171)“Wasgoodtogetacomplimentfromhim.Betterthannothing,Isuppose.”(Page183)“Steviecouldbequitestrict,likesomeofmemates’dads.Consideringhe’dneverreallybeenadadbeforeheseemedtoknowwhatdadsshoulddo.Ithinkhe’dmakeacannyoneifheputhismindtoit.”(Page191)Discuss:Whatmakesagoodfather?HowdoesDanny’srelationshipwithhisbiologicalfatherchangeoverthecourseofthenovel?Activity:Trytofindotherfather/sonrelationshipsinbooksandthemedia.LookatHomerandBartinTheSimpsons,forexample,ArthurWeasleyandRoninHarryPotter,WilliamandDannyinDanny,theChampionoftheWorld.Exploretherepresentationoftherelationship,andlookatpositiveandnegativeattributesofafather.Comparewithyourclassmatestopickthebestrelationship.“Thetriphadbeenatotaldisaster.”(Page188)DiscussandActivity:DoyouagreewithDanny?Listwaysinwhichheiswrong.LookatthewholeweekwithDannyandStevie-whendoyoufeeltheyaremorelike‘fatherandson’.Isthereanidealfamilymoment?“Itwasmedad’smam.Memamdidn’tknowwhattosaynext.ButStevie’smamdid.‘Likefather,likeson,’shesaid.”(Page301)Discuss:Dannyaskshismamwhatshemeansbythis.Whatdoyouthinkshemeansbythis?




SteviewritestoDannyfromprisonandpromiseswhenhegetsouthe’llbe“aproperdadtoyou”.Discuss:Whatdoeshemeanbythis?WhatdoyouthinkDannywouldwanta“properdad”todo?Gender“Also,IfeltabitbadthatAmyhadgoneandaskedmeout.Imean,isn’tthatthelad’sjob?”(Page19)Whentheygotogetfishandchips,Callumhasaroadrageincidentwithadriver.“‘Andthat,Danny,iswhyawomanwillneverwinFormulaOne,’hesaid,laughing.”(Page27)“‘Usboyshavegottosticktogether.’”(Page45),CallumsaystoDanny.AndwhenAmydiscussesherparentshavingadisagreement,Dannyqueriesthatherfatherdoesn’twin:“‘Well,he’sthebloke,isn’the?’‘Whatplanetareyouon,Danny?Haveyounotheardofequality?’”(Page77)Discuss:Howdocharactersinthebook‘genderstereotype?’Whatisgenderstereotyping?Whichcharactersdoandwhichdon’t?Whyisthat?Thinkaboutotherplacesyoumightpickupongenderstereotyping-ontheTV,inadverts,inbooks.Trytofindexamples.Whataresomeofourideasabouthowdifferentgendersshouldactorbe?Activity:Ingroups,takealargepieceofpaperanddrawtwocolumns,labelledboyandgirl.Brainstormideasofgenderstereotyping:forexample,‘girlslikepink’.Whenyouhavefilledbothcolumns,haveagroupdiscussionabouthoweachstudentfeelstheydoordon’tconformtothestereotyping,andwhyitmightbeapositiveornegativething.Strength“Thewayheknockedmeintothatpool,likeIwasapapercup.”(Page56)“Inormallygiveherahug,butnottoday.Didn’tdeserveit.Shelookedatme,confused,thenwrappedherarmsroundme.Iwantedtobreakfree,butdidn’t.Couldn’t.Ijustfeltweak,likeallthemusclesinmebodyhadbeenremoved.Hugsfrommegran.Nowfrommeaunty.NeverthoughtI’dmissthem.ButIdid.”(Page83)“Ineedtofindouthowstronghewas.‘Howmanypress-upscanyoudo?’”(Page142)“Stevieputouthislittlehand.Ishookit.Stronghandshakeforaskinnybloke.”(Page160)“‘Danny,youcameupallthiswayonyourown.You’reastrongladdie,acleverladdie,nowyou’vegottobeabraveladdie.Please,I’maskingyou,bestrong,Danny,foryourself,foryourmam.’”(Page205)




“‘Yeah,Callumwillbefine,’shesaid.‘He’sasstrongasanox.’”(Page257)“Butmemamjusttoldmetobestrongandtellthem[thepolice]everything.”(Page287)Discuss:WhydoesDannyneedhisfathertobestrong?Isphysicalstrengthimportant?Howelsecanapersondemonstratestrength?Sometimesweusetheword‘strength’whenwemeantheword‘courage’.IsDannystrong?Wheninthestoryishestrong,andwhenisheweak?Thinkaboutthewordstrengthinconjunctionwithhowyoujustthoughtaboutgender.DoesDannythinkmenshouldbestrongerthanwomen?Activity:Whatdoescouragelooklike?Drawapictureofcourageinaction.Titlethepicture‘Courageis…’Nowmakealistofscenariosorcomicbookscenesthatexemplifythefollowingtypesofinnerstrength:resilience,positivemindset,self-confidence,abilitytomanagesetbacks.PowerofWords“Battered.Bashed.Beaten.Biffed.Mullah’d.Twatted.Smacked.Punched.Kicked.Thumped.Hit.Smashed.Walloped.Lamped.Mugged.Stabbed.Burned.Bullied.”(Page59)Discuss:Whydoestheauthor/DannylisttheseverbsinthiswaywhenhelooksupdomesticviolenceontheInternet?“‘Thatbumofyours.I’veseenelephantswithsmallerbacksides.’AndmeandCallumlaughed.”(Page16)Discuss:Lookatwaysinwhichwhatpeoplesayinthenovelcanbehurtful.Canyoubullysomeonejustbyusingwords?Isitmorehurtfulwhenmorethanonepersonagreeswiththebully?“‘Youdon’tknowher,notlikeme.Youdon’tknowhim,youdon’tknowaboutdomesticviolence,youdon’tknowanything.Youjustmakesandwiches.’Stevielookedlikehe’dbeenpunched.”(Page172)Discuss:WhydoesDuffyusethelanguageofphysicalviolencehere?“Hiswordsweretheequivalentofahug.”(Page192)“Finally,hemovedtowardsme.Ithoughthewasgoingtohugmeagain.Butwhathedidwasevenbetter.Hesaidtwowords.‘Night,son.’”(Page201)Discuss:Thinkaboutdifferentphrasesandhowtheymakeyoufeelinside.Doesitdependwhoissayingthem,andhow?Activity:Roleplaywithapartnerasituationinwhichsomethinggoodissaidthatmakestheotherpersonfeelhappy,orinwhichitmakesthepersonfeelsad.Whichwordsdidyouuse?Whyweretheysoeffective?“Didn’tthinkitwaspossibleforAmytoannoyme,butshehad.Justlikeeveryoneelseshedidn’twanttohearwhatIhadtosay.Likeallmewordswereworthless.”(Page222)




Discuss:LookagainatthiswholeconversationbetweenDannyandAmy.Doyouthinkthat’strue,thatAmydidn’twanttohearhim?Doyouthinkhiswordsarepowerful?Activity:Whichwordsinhistoryhavebeenpowerful?Lookatoneofthefollowingpowerfuluseofwordsandexplorewhatimpacttheyhadontheworld:

• ThefirstwordsutteredwhenNeilArmstrongsteppedontothemoon:“That’sonesmallstepforman,onegiantleapformankind.”

• KarlMarx“Theproletariatshavenothingtolosebuttheirchains…Workingmenofallcountries,unite!”

• MartinLutherKing’s‘IHaveaDream’speech• AnneFrank’sdiary• MalalaYousafzai’sspeechtotheUnitedNationsin2013:“Onechild,oneteacher,

onebookandonepencanchangetheworld.”LyingLookatthefollowingexamplesoflieswithinthebook.WhenDannygoesonthecarjourneywithCallum,heisn’ttruthfulaboutwhetherheenjoysit.“‘Notscared,areyou,General?’‘No.’Yes.‘Betyoucan’twaittillyoucandothat?’BetIcan.”(Page13)Whentheygetback,heliestohismamtoo,tellingheritwas‘canny’:“Butmelaughwasmadeup.”(Page14)WhenAmyasksDannyoutonadate:“Ihopedshemighthavegoneforalaterscreening.Newcastlewereliveontelly,twelve-thirtykickoff.‘Aye,perfect.’Ilied.”(Page18)WhenAmyasksifsomethingiswrong:“‘Yes,Amy,I’dtellyou.’”(Page70)“‘Ifthere’sanythingwrong,you’dtellme?’‘Yes,MrHetherington.’”(Page95)Whenhismamaskshimifhe’sexcitedabouttheschooltrip:“Lyingagain.IwasthatnervousI’dbarelyswallowedhalfadozencornflakes.I’dalsoliedtoCallum.I’dtoldhimIneededcashfortheschooltrip.”(Page105)WhenStevieadmitsnottellingMeganabouthavingason:“‘Ijustkeptherinthedark,that’sall.I’dneverlietoher.’”(Page156)




WhenDanny’smamtellshimshe’sokay:“Memamwasabiggerliarthanme.”(Page106)WhenSteviecallsinsicktowork:“MaybeIgotmelyingfromhim.”(Page137)andwhenDannyliesaboutwhathethoughtSteviewouldbelike:“Lienumbersixmillionforthatweek.”(Page137)“It’seasiertoliewhenyou’vegottimetoplan.Butwhenyougetcaught,likeatschool,it’shardtolieright?”(Page145)WhenDannyliestoStevieaboutthephoneconversationwithhismam:“Iwasnowofficiallytheworld’sbiggestliar.”(Page195)“‘I’msorryIhityou,Danny.’‘It’sokay,Mam.’Itwasn’t.ButthiswasonelieIdidn’tmindtelling.”(Page284)Discuss:Aretheredifferenttypesoflies?

• Whitelie• Brokenpromise• Fabrication• Bold-facedLie• Exaggeration• Omission• Half-truth• Error• Cover-up

Activity:Canyoufittheliesinthebookintothesedifferentcategories?Discuss:Isiteverrighttolie?IsDannyeverrighttolie?Isitlyingtokeepasecret?Activity:Haveyouevertoldalie?Whatwasitabout,whodidyoutellitto,anddidyougetfoundout?Thinkofalistofreasonsastowhypeoplelie.LookatthestoryofTheBoyWhoCriedWolf.Whydopeopletellthisstoryasaparable?Whatlessondoesitteach?Isiteffective?Aresomepeoplebetterliarsthanothers?Oftenpeoplegiveawaythattheyarelyingbytheirbodylanguage-canyoumakealistofbodylanguagethatshowsyouwhensomeoneislyingtoyou?“‘Oh,hi,Danny,’saidmemam,inhernicecall-centrevoice.’”(Page150)Danny’smamputsonaspecialvoicetodisguiseherupset,inthesamewaythatshedressesacertainwayforCallum,andcoversherbruiseswithclothesormakeup.Discuss:Liesalsomanifestinappearances.Thinkabouthowyoupresentyourselfwithaselfie.Doyoueditit?Whendoyoupresenta‘fake’appearanceofyourselftotheworld?Isthisalwayswrong?




Dannydoesn’ttellanyoneaboutCallum’sabuse.NotAmy,noauthorityfigure,andnofamilymember.Discuss:Whydoesn’the?Ishejustlikehismambecausehewon’ttelleither?“‘You’remyboyfriend.We’remeanttotelleachotherstuff.Youdon’tsolveproblemslikethisbykeepingthemtoyourself.’”(Page292)Discuss:TherearetwopartstowhatAmyissayinghere.Shouldaboyfriendandgirlfriendtelleachothereverything?Issherightinsayingthatyoucan’tsolveaproblemifyoudon’tshareit?Intheend,Dannyhastodivulgethefulltruth:“‘Idosolemnly,sincerelyandtrulydeclareandaffirmthattheevidenceIshallgiveshallbethetruth,thewholetruthandnothingbutthetruth.’”(Page296)Discuss:WhydoesDuffyincludethis?Lookatthewording-explorewhythisexactwordingisusedincourt.

Relationships

�

Thebookismainlyaboutrelationships.Earlyoninthebook,Danny’smammeetsCallum:“Alwaysholdinghandsandstrokingeachother’sarmsandlegs,gazingateachother,likethey’ddiscoveredsomethingamazing.Whenhewasn’tthere,she’dcallhim,puttingonthatphonevoiceshe’sgot,likeyouhearontheadverts,makingpeoplebuystufftheydon’treallywant.Andatnightthey’dlieonourlittlesofawiththeirlegsandarmsalltangledtogetherlikewrestlersoroctopusesorropes.”(Page12)“IwasthathappybeingwithAmyI’devenforgottentocheckhowtheToonhadgoton.AmygrabbedatableandIwentandgotustwohotchocolates.Aftertakingasip,Amystaredintomeeyes,likeshewastryingtohypnotiseme.AmyhadthemostbeautifuleyesofanygirlinYearEight.”(Page21)Discuss:ComparethewayDannydescribesearlymomentsinthetworelationships.Doyouthinktheauthorwantsthereadertocomparethetworelationships?Thinkaboutotherrelationshipsinthenovel.Isthereanexampleofagoodrelationship?Whichoneandwhy.Activity:Makealistofwhatmakesagoodrelationship.Thinkaboutequalityandrespect.Nowlookagainatwhichrelationshipinthebookyoufeelisapositiveone.Doesitdisplaythesecharacteristics?CanyouwriteadiaryoftherelationshipbetweenDannyandAmyfromAmy’spointofview?Doesshefeelfrustratedthathedoesn’tconfideinher?




PowerdynamicMostoftherelationshipsinthebookhaveapowerdynamic.Thismeansthatoftenonepersonisdominantintheirbehaviourtowardstheother.Sometimesthepowershifts.Activity:Examinethepowerdynamicinthevariousrelationships,andlookatscenesthatdisplaythe‘power’ofonepersonoveranother(thefirsttwoarehighlightedforyou):

• CallumandDanny(Lookatpages232-233wherethedynamicshifts)• Dannyandhismam(Lookatpage281wherethedynamicshifts)• AmyandDanny• CallumandDanny’smam• LankyDaveandDanny

Discuss:Wheredoesthepowershift,anddoesitsee-sawbackandforth?Lookatthelanguageinvolved.Isthereintimidation,persuasion,aggression,manipulation?Activity:Pickarelationshipandimagineascenethatisdescribedashavinghappenedbutisn’twrittenonthepage-perhapsAmytellingherparentsaboutLankyDave,AuntTina’svoicemessagestoDanny’smamoverthecourseofthenovel,Stevie’sstatementtothepolice.Writeitout.ViolenceThereislotsofviolenceinthebook,notonlyinstancesinwhichCallumisabusivetoDanny’smam,butalsoinstancesinwhichDanny,hismam,andStevieareviolenttoo.“Ijumpedup,grabbedhimroundtheneckandpulledhimbackwards.”(Page96)“Steviehadnothingtohitthemwith.Hewasonlyarmedwithfishandchips.Soheputtheotherparcelonacarroof,pickedupatrafficconeandswungitatthefatbloke.”(Page167)“ThebestbitwastheWarMuseum.SeemedliketheScotshadbeeninloadsofbattles.Reallymustlikefighting…SteviewasturningScots,Iwonderwhyhedidn’tlikefighting?Itwasn’tlikeIwasaskinghimtogotowar.AllIwantedwashimtokilloneperson.”(Page179)“Therewasastackofdustbinsbythefrontdoor.Ikickedthemover.ThenIpickedupadustbinlidandthrewit.Ithitacarinthestreet,andsetthealarmoff.”(Page195)“Itriedtorunforthedoor,butmamcaughtmebythewristandthrewmehardonthesofa.Shewasbreathingsoheavythatshecouldn’tspeak,likewhenCallumgrabbedherinSpain.”(Page281)Discuss:Doyoufeelthebookcondonesviolence?Doesviolenceleadtomoreviolence?Aretheredifferentkindsofviolence?WhydoesDannyresorttoviolencehimself?OntheonehandDannyisimpressedwithStevie’sviolence,butappalledbyCallum’s.What’sthedifference?Isitgenderbased?Isitokayformentofighteachother,butnotamanandawoman?Isviolenceeverjustified?Activity:Setupadebatebetweenmembersofyourgrouporclass.Onesideshouldarguethatviolencecansometimesbejustified,andtheotherargueagainst.Takeavoteafterwards.




DomesticAbuseCallumisabusivetowardsDanny’smam.Domesticabusemanifestsitselfinmanyways,notjustviolence,andmanyofthesewaysareexemplifiedinthetext.“‘Iwantyoutotellmeifshe’sspeakingtopeoplesheshouldn’tbespeakingto.Goingplacessheshouldn’t.Planningthingswhenmyback’sturned.’”(Page44)“ThroughblurryeyesIcouldseehim,hisarmstillaroundherneck,memamonherknees.”(Page48)“Memamneverstopsthinkingaboutherweight.FBseestothat.”(Page90)“‘It’shisplace,Danny.’‘Thoughtitwasourplace.’”(Page233)Discuss:Whatsortofbehaviourtoyouconsidertobeabusive?Listthem,(forexample,insults,namecalling,isolation,controllingbehaviour,jealousy,makingthevictimfeelresponsiblefortheabuse),andthenfindexamplesinthetextofwhereCallumdisplaysabusivebehaviourtowardsDanny’smam.Activity:Watchthisvideothatexplainsthedifferenttypesofabuse.https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z3xdnbkSeeifyoucanfindotherexamplesofthesedifferenttypesofabuseinthetext:physical,emotional,financial,psychological.“AndInoticedmemamdidn’tgooutasoften.SheusedtogodowntheQuaysidewithhermatesorspendthedaywithGranormeetAuntyTinaforacoffee.NowsheonlygoesoutwithCallum.”(Page42)LookatChapterTeninwhichDannylooksupdomesticabuse.Activity:Insmallgroupsnotedownthesignsthatsomeonemightbeexperiencingabuse.Thinkaboutisolationfromfriends,lossofwork,emotionaleffectssuchasanxiety,depression,lowself-worth,poorhealth,physicalinjury.Signsmayincludechangeinappearance,depressionoranxiety,isolation,argumentative,fearful,bruises,useofalcohol,cancellingofplans.ThenfindexamplesinthetextinwhichDanny’smamshowsthesesigns.Youcouldmakeadomesticabusewheeltospotsignsthatarelationshipisabusive.“‘It’llbebetterwhenwe’remarried,’shesaidsoftly.”(Page234)Discuss:WhydoesDanny’smamstayintherelationshipwithCallum?Thinkaboutthereasonsgivenonpage91.Canyouthinkofanyothersthataren’tmentionedhere?Thinkabouthowdomesticabuseaffectsothersaroundthevictimtoo.Activity:Nowthinkaboutwhatahealthyrelationshiplookslike.Refertothenotesyoumadeearlier.Writedownsomeofthequalitiesofagoodrelationship.Examplesmayinclude:mutualencouragement,spendingqualitytimetogether…Takearelationshipyoucurrentlyhaveandgivesomeexamplesituationsofeachpositiveattribute.SeekingHelp“IsometimeswentroundAmy’shouseafterschool.Likedgoingthere.Therewasagoodfeelingtotheplace.Itfeltsafe.Likenothingwasevergoingtokickoff.”(Page76)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/z3xdnbk




“Whydidn’tshetellthemaboutthefights?...Whydidn’tshetellthemwhatanevilbastardhewas?Iwishedwithallmebrainformemamtosayit,butshedidn’t,justsilence,likenothinghadeverhappenedinourhouse.”(Page254)“Oursilencehadcomebacktopunishus.”(Page284)Discuss:ShouldDannyorhismamhavetoldsomeoneearlier?Whocanhelpyou?Thinkaboutthefollowing:Police,friend,doctor,family,neighbour,teacher,helpline,website.Whatotheractioncouldyoutakeifyouarebeingabused?Lookatthefollowinglist:

• Rememberitisnotyourfault• Findasupportnetwork• Talktopeople• Findasafeplace• Haveamobilechargedforemergencies• Haveasafecodewordwithatrustedfriend

“AuntyTinaheldmemamtight,andtheybothstartedcrying.”(Page301)Discuss:Thinkaboutthesensitivityyouneedtoshowifanabusevictimconfidesinyou:believethem,don’tjudge,tellthemtheyarenotalone,acknowledgeitisnottheirfault,acknowledgehowharditistospeakaboutit,helptorecognisethatwhatishappeningisunacceptable,comeupwithasafetyplan,buildtheirconfidenceandbepatient.Endingarelationshipcanbehard.Activity:Listentothefollowingsongs:‘Luka’bySuzanneVega,‘CherryWine’byHozier.Howdotheymakeyoufeel?Dotheyexpressabuseinacertainway?Activity:Canyouwriteanadvicecolumnfromamagazineorblogexploringwhattodoifsomeoneisbeingabusedathome?Drawamind-mapofallthepeopleinyourlifewhocouldgiveyouhelp.FurtherReadingSecretsbyJacquelineWilsonTheLightJarbyLisaThompsonYATheLiar’sHandbookbyKerenDavidBrixtonRockbyAlexWheatlePaperButterfliesbyLisaHeathfieldTellMeNoLiesbyMalorieBlackmanBreathingUnderwaterbyAlexFlinnOrganisationsthatcanhelpFreeNationalDomesticViolenceHelpline08082000247http://thehideout.org.uk/http://www.respectnotfear.co.uk/

http://thehideout.org.uk/

http://www.respectnotfear.co.uk/