Trucker 6-pack Author: Fleur Beale ISBN: 9780478124224 Copyright Date: 2000 Lesson Plan Blackline Master Grade Level: 6 Reading Level: Y Strategy/Skill: Character study, Forming opinions, making judgements, Point of view Genre: Realistic Fiction Theme/Topic: Character Education, Family, Personal Change Classification: Fiction

Book Summary

Jack is crazy about trucks but not about his mom’s boyfriend, Steve.  On Jack’s birthday, Steve gives him a surprise present – a ride with a trucker in a big rig.  When an emergency situation develops, Jack starts to see Steve in a different light.

Features of the Book

• The theme of stereotyping
• The use of similes – the light around the cab twinkled through the gloom like birthday candles
• First person point of view
• Technical vocabulary – straddle, hydraulic, articulated
• The alternatives to “said” – muttered, called, gasped
• The different viewpoints of the characters
• The technical detail in the illustrations
• The use of irony and sarcasm in the conversations

Purpose

Trucker can be used to introduce and reinforce the following skills:

• identifying stereotypes and how stereotypes influence us
• interpreting and analyzing characters’ feelings and actions
• using text to support opinions
• identifying the different viewpoints of characters
• identifying change of opinion within a story

For more information please see our Lesson Plan