Sarah Crossan is a former English teacher and the author of the Carnegie Medal and UKLA Book Award nominated The Weight of Water, which is being published by Bloomsbury in paperback this month.
The book is written in verse – and tells the memorable and bittersweet tale of Kasienka, who escapes from her home in Poland and heads for England with her mother. A coming of age story that also tackles the alienation so often experienced by young immigrants in Britain today.
Poetry is the opera of literature –many readers are put off, believing it is difficult and often impenetrable. Sarah’s novel attempts to break down those barriers and has written a great teacher’s guide to use alongside the book. Here is a collection of the highlights:
Pre-reading activities As a class, look together at the jacket design for the novel and ask students to guess what some of the themes from the novel might be. Draw attention to the suitcase, the raindrops/tears as well as the symbolism of the colours used.
Ask students to flick through the book. What is unusual about the way in which the novel has been written? How does this make them feel? Some students may be nervous about poetry. Why do they feel this way? Encourage students to bring in poems from home and share them with the class or a small group. Alternatively, ask students to bring in songs which could be played aloud. What is it about the way in which poetry/verse is written that makes it different toprose? What makes it fun? What makes it frightening?
Discussion Questions In ‘First Day’, Kasienka describes her first day at school. Does she have a positive experience? What is Mrs Warren’s attitude? For what reasons might Mama caution Kasienka not to contradict MrsWarren? Describe your first day at a new school. What were your feelings and fears? What is Kasienka feeling?
Mama and Kasienka are in Coventryto find Tata. What is Kasienka’s attitude to finding her father? What is Mama’s attitude? How would you describe Kasienka’s home life in Poland before and after her father leaves? Look especially at ‘Before England’, ‘Road Atlas’,‘The Odyssey’, and ‘Wanted’.
Kasienka seems to believe that girls and boys fight and bully in different ways. Do you agree? Describe some of your experiences.
Kasienka decides to disobey Mamaand travel to London for the swimming competition. Is she right to do this? Can it ever be right to disobey one’s parents/teachers/guardians? Give examples of situations when disobedience would be the best course of action?
Beyond the Book: Cross-Curricular Activities
Art After analysing the novel’s book jacket, ask students to design book jackets to illustrate their own life stories by using appropriate symbols and colours. If there is enough trust within the class, students might share their covers and allow othersto guess the stories behind these pictures. Display the covers.
Music Mama is an opera singer. Play some songs from Madame Butterfly or another opera. Ask students to devise a soundtrack to go with The Weight of Water using opera or any other types of music. Ask students to write an original song to accompany the novel, using some of the words in the poems as lyrics.
Food Technology Celebrate difference by having a World Party. Have students dress in their national costumes and bring in traditional foods from home for others to taste. Help students cook some of the Polish dishes mentioned in the book.
History Kasienka loves Kenilworth Castle. Ask students to research the history of the castle, including Queen Elizabeth I’s visit there 400 years ago. For further details about Sarah Crossan and her work visit www.sarahcrossan.com.
To read Ink Pellet’s view visit www.inkpellet.co.uk/2012/02/bookreview-the-weight-of-water/