2. ARE THESE BEGINNINGS GRABBERS?
nce upon a time there was a little girl.
he little brown dog limped through town, dragging
one bloody paw behind him.
ird Dog Dean hadn’t planned to set the woods on
fire.
immy wanted to be a fireman when he grew up.
asha scrounged through the trash because she
3. WHAT ABOUT THESE?
nce upon a time, there lived an old woman
and an old man.
y best friend’s name is Lee Ann Turwilliger.
his is a story about a moose I saw once in
Maine.
’ve never told this story before, and I’m only
telling you now because I think someone else
should know the truth.
4. GRABBERS GO AFTER
YOUR FEELINGS…MAKING YOU FEEL
URIOSITY
UMOR
ONDER
ANGER
SORROW
FEAR
M Y S T E R Y
5. KINDS OF GRABBERS:
umorous: I didn’t mean to drive my teacher
crazy, it just happened that way.
ialogue: “Why are you eating a tarantula?”
my little sister asked.
uestion: Don’t you think every boy deserves a
dog of his own?
6. KINDS OF GRABBERS:
ystery: I was eleven when I found the magic key
that would change my life.
hocking: I’ll never forget the day my tongue turned
purple and green.
7. WHAT NOW?
et’s look for examples of “grabbers”.
e’ll look through picture books and
chapter books to find one or two samples.
8. A FEW OF MY FAVORITES
Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood. If you’re
reading this because you think you might be
one, my advice is: close this book right now.
Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you
about your birth, and try to lead a normal life.
Being a half-blood is dangerous. It’s scary.
Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful,
nasty ways.
9.
10. A FEW OF MY FAVORITES
If your teacher has to die, August isn’t a bad
time of year for it. You know August. The
corn is earring. The tomatoes are ripening on
the vine. The clover’s in full bloom. There’s a
little less evening now, and that’s a warning.
You want to live every day twice over because
you’ll be back in the jailhouse of school before
the end of the month.
11.
12. A FEW OF MY FAVORITES
WARNING: Do not read beyond this page!
Good. Now I know I can trust you. You’re curious.
You’re brave. And you’re not afraid to lead a life of
crime.
But let’s get something straight; if, despite my
warning, you insist on reading this book, you can’t
hold me responsible for the consequences. And,
make no bones about it, this is a very dangerous
book.
13.
14. LIBRARY ETIQUETTE
e will be visiting the library…
ut we wont’ all be in the same area.
ach of you will get a card, directing you a specific
section to look great beginnings.
