This document provides an introduction to Cathi Unsworth and her novel Weirdo. It includes biographical information about Unsworth and her writing career. It describes Weirdo as a tale of teenage trauma and female transgression set in Unsworth's teenage years in Norfolk. It also includes an excerpt from chapter 24 of Weirdo and prompts students to analyze the excerpt by identifying literary devices, themes, genre elements, tone, imagery and symbolism. Students are then asked to prepare questions for a Skype interview with Unsworth about her influences, creative process and the provided excerpt.

1. CATHI UNSWORTH’S WEIRDO
MARCH 3, 2017 SKYPE INTERVIEW BY
LYCÉE INTERNATIONAL NELSON MANDELA, NANTES, FRANCE
AMERICAN OIB CLASS.

2. INTRODUCTION BY CATHI UNSWORTH
Hello and thank you for joining me in the world
of Weirdo. This is a story of female transgression
and the mysteries of our teenage years that can
often seem like they have come from the pages
of fable and folklore. The time and place were
the Norfolk setting of my own teenage years but
they could be any place and any time...

3. CATHI UNSWORTHCathi Unsworth is a novelist, writer and
editor who lives in London. She began her
career on the music weekly Sounds at the
age of 19 and has worked for many other
publications since, including The Guardian,
Bizarre and Melody Maker. Her first novel
The Not Knowing was published in 2005,
followed the next year with the award-
winning short story compendium London
Noir, which she edited, and in 2007 with
the punk noir novel The Singer. Her third
novel, Bad Penny Blues, inspired by the
unsolved 'Jack the Stripper' murders of
1959-65 was published in 2010 to great
critical acclaim. Her 2012 book Weirdo, a
tale of teenage trauma and female

4. CATHI UNSWORTH
Her latest work Without The Moon is based on two true crimes that
occurred during the dark days of February 1942, and is the first in a
series of novels that are inspired by real cases that happened in Britain
during World War II. She is currently working on the next in the series,
That Old Black Magic. As well as working on her books, Cathi has
appeared on TV and radio, including reviewing for BBC2's The Culture
Show. She regularly takes part in live events, has given screen talks at The
Barbican in London and hosted interviews and walks for The Sohemian
Society. All of Cathi's books are published by and available from Serpent's
Tail.

5. •Analyze the excerpt.
•You can also listen to
it.
•Define the genre of
this novel. What are
the major elements of
this genre? Can you
find them in this
excerpt from Weirdo?
•Jot down your notes on
Excerpt from chapter 24

6. •Analyze the excerpt.
•Focus on:
• Literary devices,
• Voice,
• Different perspectives,
• Symbolism…
•Jot down your notes on
this document.
Excerpt from chapter 24: Weirdo

7. REMINDER:
 Literary devices,
 Themes, motifs,
Genre,
 Tone, diction,
syntax,
 Allusions,
 Imagery and
 Symbolism…
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8. SKYPE INTERVIEW
•Prepare questions about
•Cathi Unsworth,
•Her influences,
•Her creative process,
•The excerpt you have studied…
 Be creative, original and personal!
 Share your questions and ideas on
this Google doc.
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9. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Cathi Unsworth’s website
• Article about Weirdo
• Cathi Unsworth on Facebook
• Women and Noir
• Weirdo (The Independent)
• Wikipedia
• Guest Writer
• Online tools (Final project)
• The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms,
second ed. (Murfin, Ray) / Literary terms / Meter
• Devices
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