Seth and Kady sit with Luke as he does the "Tall Jake"
ritual: some hair from a cat, a tear (don't ask how he got that) and several
other things that are put in a pot and burned while you say 5 times, "Tall
Jake, come take me away." [Note: just imagine what a good booktalk this
is. With voices as if you were involved in this!] And then nothing happens.
Luke does this just to show his friends how silly it is, even though it is in
the comic book he shows them.
Then the next day he disappears. His friends know in their hearts what
has happened. They look for the comic book, but it is perfectly blank. [Prop
idea: music please!] They even break into the comic book store to find the
next issue, to redo the ritual, to get into this place called
"Malice." At this point the book becomes a comic/graphic novel. [Prop
note: have some blown up pages to show the students.] This is a horrid
world that is half horror, half steam punk.
Interspersed graphic novel and prose, this is a great read--and of
course the sequel is out, with the next in the series coming soon!
Booktalk by Mary Jo Heller, Teacher-Librarian
emeritus
[This works as an impromptu reader's theater. Print out three copies of
the script below. Highlight Jake & Heather's lines in different colors:
yellow for Heather, blue for Jake, etc. Leave the narrator's lines
un-highlighted: these will be yours. Ask for two volunteers.]
Narrator: There were once two kids named Heather
and Luke. Luke had found a comic book. It was kind of a famous comic book; if you
knew the stories about it. [Show the copy of Malice and hand it to Luke.]
Luke: "Hey, I have to show you
something."
Heather: "What is it?"
Luke: "Malice." [Hold up the book]
Heather: "Huh?"
Luke: "Are you scared of a little book? Come
on Heather--get real! It's not like the rumors are real. Look. I'll prove
it."
Heather: "Luke, don't! He's gonna--"
Luke: "Chill, Heather. It's just a myth.
See: here's the feather; the twig; the cat fur, the tear drop, and the lock of hair."
Heather: "Luke. Are...are you sure?!"
Luke: "It's just a story. A rumor. Watch me;
I'll say the chant and nothing will happen. Tall Jake take me away. Tall Jake
take me away. Tall Jake take me away. Tall Jake take me away. TALL JAKE TAKE ME
AWAY!"
Narrator: That's the last anyone saw of either Jake
or Heather for a long, long time. So, Dear Readers. Do you think you have the
courage to come into tall Jake's world? Are you ready to sacrifice your life in
his realm? Are you ready to give up everything you have for ... [Hold up the
novel] ... Malice? You'll never know unless you try. Like Luke. Or Heather.
It's not going to be tall Jake's fault, if you decide to test your luck, test
your wits against him.
Heather: Tall Jake take me away!
Luke: Tall Jake take me away!
Narrator: He'll be waiting for you...
Booktalk by Kirsten Edwards, Teen Librarian
King County Library System
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