"Four Perfect Pebbles" --Chapter 1 Reactions

Four Perfect Pebbles is a powerful book right from the very first page.  The whole time I was reading I was just in complete amazement that events like this ever happened and are still happening today.  When one thinks of Holocaust literature the first book that comes to mind is The Dairy of Anne Frank, but this is another great book to add to the arsenal of  Holocaust literature that can and should be taught in schools.

While reading the first chapter I had to do quite a bit of additional research, just as I would have my students do.  Once again, going back to Keene's beliefs and ideals, I feel that it would be absolutely necessary to research background information with your students in order for them to more fully understand the book.  I myself needed to look things up in order to paint a better picture in my mind of the setting and to relate more to the character.

The first thing that I researched was the actual concentration camp in which the story began--Bergen-Belsen.  This is something that I would also do with my students in order to gain a greater depth of background knowledge.   As stated in the text, the Bergen--Belsen camp was located in Northwest Germany.  Although, aaccording to the Jewish Virtual Library, (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/Belsen.html), there were no gas-chambers or the typical forced labor that we usually associate with concentration camps, Begen-Belsen was still not a "camp" by any means.  Disease and hunger were the most common cause of death at Bergen-Belsen.  Located below is a map, and highlighted is Bergen-Belsen.

Picture provided from (http://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/map/lc/image/bbe72020.gif)

Although I am fairly well versed in Holocaust history many students may not be.  I did not have to research much extra about the Holocaust in order to understand because I have that prior knowledge.  However, before reading this story with my students I would give a few mini-lessons on WWII and the Holocaust, once again to promote a better understanding of the events that will be described in the story.

I think it is so interesting to see the Holocaust through the eyes of a child.  The students who will be studying this book will be around the same age as Marion, which I think helps them put things in to perspective.  Throughout the first chapter I love how Marion's innocence and youth is portrayed.  Even when she is subjected to a concentration camp and is living a most dreadful life she is still able to be filled with hope.  On page two of the text when she at first thinks a cart of naked bodies is perhaps a big cart of firewood that will keep her warm.  Then again on page seven with her belief of the four perfect pebbles.  Her spirit shows that even in the most horrific times it is important to have hope and believe in good. 

I thought that this was a terrific chapter.  It engaged me and I could definitely see myself teaching this to a group of sixth grade students.  One thing that I loved on the writer, Lila Perls, part was the way she book ended the first and second chapter.  She ended the first chapter, "'when you were just a baby in that small town in Germany...'(Perl 9)" and began the title of chapter 2 with"A Small Town in Germany" (Perl 10).  I just thought that was a very creative touch and allows a lot of room for student predictions.