The Golden Hour

The Golden Hour

By: Maiya Williams

Published by: Harry N. Abrams, 2006
Grade level: 5 and up

Fountas and Pinnell: W

Lexile: 740L

Accelerated Reader: 6.3

Suggested Delivery: Small Group/Individual

Author: Maiya Williams

Summary:

This book's setting is in the time period of the French Revolution. The four children in the book travel back in time become a member of a different social group of the time. Their attitudes towarad the events surrounding the French Revolution are very different; most interesing are their differing views of Queen Marie Antoinette.The book deals with children's loss of their mother. Rowan and Nina learn lessons about accepting loss and moving on with life.

Key Words/Phrases to Describe the Book:

1. time travel

2. French Revolution

3. accepting loss

4. different points of view

5. lesson learning

Key Vocabulary:

French Revolution: the revolution that began in 1789, overthrew the absolute monarchy of the Bourbons and the system of aristocratic privileges, and endedwith Napoleon's overthrow of the Directory and seizure of power in1799.

Social class: a broad group in society having common economic, cultural, orpolitical status.

Point of view: an opinion, attitude, or judgment

Alleviators: an airtight box, having a free liquid surface, forcushioning the shock of water hammer.

Enlightenment: a philosophical movement of the 18th century,characterized by belief in the power of human reason and byinnovations in political, religious, and educational doctrine.

Bastille Day: July 14, a national holiday of the French republic, commemorating thefall of the Bastille in 1789.

Resources:

Maiya Williams website is a great resource to use when trying to get to know the author more

French Revolution website can inform students of this time period and why the French Revolution occurred.

Teaching Suggestions:

• Identify and discuss difficult words, phrases, and concepts in the text.

• Focus attention on parts in a text that require students to make inferences

• Ask students to recall and tell in their own words important parts of the text.

Comprehension Strategies: 

Before: Ask students what they know about the French Revolution.   Go over who was involved, who were the leaders, the time period in which it happened, and why it occurred.

During: Ask students about social class and how it is affecting how the book's plot is unfolding.  What are the different kinds of point of view we are seeing in this novel?

After: Have students dress up as one of the characters that were mentioned from the 18th century.  Students will role play, exemplifying why that character was significant to the time period.

Writing Activity:

Since this is a story about time traveling, students must write a well-developed persuasive essay to a destination that they wish they could go back in history and visit.  Students will have time to research on that time period so they can create a convincing argument as to why that time period is the one to relive.  

Bibliography:

Williams, M. (2006). The golden hour. Harry N. Abrams.