Bibliographic Information:
Lisle, J. T. (2006). Black duck. New York: Sleuth/Philomel.
Readability Level: 4.5
Audience Level: Grades 6-8
Suggested Delivery: independent or group read
Summary: "A teen's determination to be published in the local paper leads him to Ruben Hart's front door and an unlikely friendship. The elderly man has a mysterious past, and David soon becomes wrapped up in his tale of how he played an integral part in the adventures surrounding the legendary rum-running ship called the Black Duck. In 1929, in Newport, RI, Ruben and his friend Jeddy, 14, found a body on the beach. By the time they convinced the authorities to check it out, the dead man had disappeared, and soon both the New York and Boston mobs were after Ruben. The author explores the subject of Prohibition as well as various underlying social themes. She shows the difficulty of staying honest when everyone else is breaking the law and when local authorities all seem to be in on the action. Another issue involves the Coast Guard's shooting of three men believed to be rumrunners, and whether the murders were justified. Readers will be inspired by both Ruben's and David's will to succeed when faced with an overwhelming challenge and how they stand by their convictions in doing so. The decade-alternating chapters may be a bit challenging for reluctant readers, but the riveting mystery and nonstop adventure will provide enough incentive for older readers."
-Kimberly Monaghan, formerly at Vernon Area Public Library, IL
Lisle, J. T. (2006). Black duck. New York: Sleuth/Philomel.
Readability Level: 4.5
Audience Level: Grades 6-8
Suggested Delivery: independent or group read
Summary: "A teen's determination to be published in the local paper leads him to Ruben Hart's front door and an unlikely friendship. The elderly man has a mysterious past, and David soon becomes wrapped up in his tale of how he played an integral part in the adventures surrounding the legendary rum-running ship called the Black Duck. In 1929, in Newport, RI, Ruben and his friend Jeddy, 14, found a body on the beach. By the time they convinced the authorities to check it out, the dead man had disappeared, and soon both the New York and Boston mobs were after Ruben. The author explores the subject of Prohibition as well as various underlying social themes. She shows the difficulty of staying honest when everyone else is breaking the law and when local authorities all seem to be in on the action. Another issue involves the Coast Guard's shooting of three men believed to be rumrunners, and whether the murders were justified. Readers will be inspired by both Ruben's and David's will to succeed when faced with an overwhelming challenge and how they stand by their convictions in doing so. The decade-alternating chapters may be a bit challenging for reluctant readers, but the riveting mystery and nonstop adventure will provide enough incentive for older readers."
-Kimberly Monaghan, formerly at Vernon Area Public Library, IL
Curriculum Connections:
Taken from Scholastic.
Taken from Scholastic.
- Think of a scene from Black Duck that is very vivid in your mind. It could be a scene you thought was important or that was particularly exciting. Think of what characters were there, how you imagine they looked, where the scene took place, what the setting looked like, and what action or conflict was taking place. Now draw a picture of this scene using the descriptions given in the novel. Last, create a title for the drawing that explains the scene you have drawn. Ask students to reread the part of the novel that describes the scene they intend to drawing. Encourage them to be as descriptive and specific as possible in their draw. For example, ask them to think about how each of the characters were feeling and how that feeling might be expressed on the characters’ faces in the drawing.
- In Black Duck, readers see a lot of the events from Ruben Hart’s point of view, but don’t learn very much about Jeddy McKenzie’s perspective on things. Reread the conflict that takes place between Ruben and Jeddy on p. 83. Now write a journal entry from Jeddy’s point of view describing the day’s events.
- Readers learn what happened on the night of the shooting from Ruben Hart, and even he isn’t sure whether the coast guard gave “fair warning” before firing on the Black Duck. Do you believe that this shooting was justified? Use details from the book and other resources to help you support your answer. How do you feel about the shooting?