Stolen Children by Peg Kehert

When 14-year old Amy agrees to babysit 3-year-old Kendra, she has no idea that Kendra is about to be kidnapped for ransom and that she too will be kidnapped.  Amy must keep Kendra safe while thinking of ways to escape.  This book is a 2012 Nutmeg Book Award Intermediate Nominee and was given the Children's Choice Award in 2009.  It is gauranteed to keep readers at the edge of their seat.

Reading Level:
     Lexile Level:  730

Genre/Theme:
     Fiction
     Babysitting
     Kidnapping
     Mysteries

Subject:
     English Language Arts

Teaching ideas for a 5th Grade Classroom:
     Web Resources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP903vYod1U- This video would serve as an excellent initiation for the book.  It will definitely get the students' attention.

http://www.pegkehret.com/wordpress/?p=76 - Peg Kehert describes her life as a writer.  Inspirational for students to read, with a message of never stop writing.

Suggested Delivery:  Independent Read

Before Reading:
     Vocabulary to introduce:  ransom, thugs, remote, boutiques, elegant, impromptu
To increase motivation, have students watch the youtube video from above.  Have them make their own predictions based on the video.

During Reading:
Have students participate in a literary discussion.  Give students the following questions to discuss in their groups:  What does the author want you to believe is going to happen to Amy?  Kendra?  What evidence can you find for your conclusion?  What might happen if Amy trys to escape? 

After Reading:
Students will participate in SPAWN Writing.  Students will be given the Special power to change any one aspect of the story.  They must state what they changed, why they changed it, and the effects this change has had.  Next, students must write a solution to a Problem that the text posed.  Students will then write their story from an Alternative viewpoint.  Ask students "What-if Amy never fell asleep?".  Students will need to write their story based on this change.  Students will complete their writing by answering "what happened Next" in the story.  http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/cc/18str/spawn/18str_spawn.htm offers a great site for an interactive SPAWN Writing project.  Students may also use Kidspiration to create their SPAWN.

Kehret, P. (2008). Stolen children . New York: Dutton Children's Books.