Acting Out: Six One-Act Plays, Six Newbery Stars - Avi, Katherine Paterson, Susan Cooper, Sharon Creech, Patricia MacLachlan, Richard Peck

Fun writing exercise, but doesn't always inspire.

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Book details

Author: Avi, Katherine Paterson, Susan Cooper, Sharon Creech, Patricia MacLachlan, Richard Peck
# of pages: 192
Publisher:Atheneum
Original Publication Date: 06/17/2008
Genre: Fiction - Contemporary Fiction
Hardcover: $16.99
Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 9-12
Read Aloud: 9
Read Alone: 9

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that there is nothing questionable in this collection of plays. Each story has a lesson that is presented clearly.

Families can talk about the theater. How should each character look, talk, and act in these plays? Which lessons did you like best? They can also challenge each other to use jaunty words like "hoodwink" and "dollop" mixed in with their everyday speech. And wouldn't it make text messages more entertaining?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

Each play has a lesson, whether it's a rich, selfish man learning the value and beauty of simple things, or children learning the importance of taking care of the environment.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

A teacher threatens to whip students with switches.

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Terreece Clarke

In these one-act plays written by six Newbery Award winners, each writer had to use the same six words -- "dollop," "hoodwink," "Justin," "knuckleball," "panhandle," and "raven" -- in a different way. The result is a collection of plays that include a view into the publishing world, a look at the environment fighting back against developers, a spooky ghost story, and a twisted look at a fairy tale.

Is it any good?

While each play has some really great elements, including a lesson, the majority are uninspiring. "The Bad Room" by Patricia MacLachlan is one of the weaker ones. It follows kids who are routinely sent to detention in the "bad room" and how they learn to ballroom dance when a new teacher comes into the picture. The play lacked real humor or plot and the story is too familiar.

One of the gems, however, is "The Raven" by Sharon Creech. Edgar Allan Poe is a modern teen looking to publish his poems and his agent asks for a number of hilarious changes (Why can't the raven be a happier bird?) that aggravate the poor author. This fast-paced, fun play is definitely worth performing with friends or in class.