English Arts Festival

Discussion Board: Reef of Death

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 10:27:56 Author: Harter, Megan <fh_mharter@seovec.org> Subject: word master  I will take the word master role because that is the only other role left. I did the word master a little differently though. Rather than look at words that I didn't know, I decided to focus on the language. Paul Zindel used very graphic, descriptive language, especially with the creatures he created. I think that my students might have a hard time getting through all his language, though it does usually describe something gory.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 10:31:12 Author: Harter, Megan <fh_mharter@seovec.org> Subject: Your opinion  I have to say that this is my least favorite of the 4 Zindel books I have read so far. I thought that the whole story was a little sketchy, and really relied on violence and gore to pull it through. Some things happened, and I can just imagine my students thinking how it really couldn't happen. For example, the whole electric eel reviving scene. I really will have a hard time using this book because the violence does not have a purpose, like a historical fiction book would. There really was no purpose.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 15:30:05 Author: Ball, Jasmine <jball@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Your opinion  I completely agree. I imagined myself having to make up stuff to explain to my students the unexplainable. They will have a hard time with this in that way. I don't know if the gore and high-paced action will make up for that or not.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 18:11:25 Author: Henderly, Elaine A. <elaineh@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Your opinion  I agree that using this book as a whole class project would be a little difficult. However, my students who read this book loved it because of the gore. For some reason, students of this age are drawn to scary, descriptive language such as Paul Zindel used throughout the story. I thought the idea of using an electric eel to rescitate the main character was a "shocking" idea. I would have NEVER thought of such a concept.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 22:40:32 Author: Hennes, Jack <ff_jhennes@seovec.org> Subject: Re: Your opinion  For the entertainment value i could see using this book. Many of my students would enjoy the story. They like this kind of stuff.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 10:33:02 Author: Harter, Megan <fh_mharter@seovec.org> Subject: Which character was your favorite?  I have to say that I really didn't connect with any of the characters in the book, which really made it hard to have a favorite character. Did anyone else have trouble connecting with the characters?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 15:30:41 Author: Ball, Jasmine <jball@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Which character was your favorite?  yes. I did as well. It seems that you started to connect and then the character was eaten!

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 18:13:52 Author: Henderly, Elaine A. <elaineh@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Which character was your favorite?  Although I did not relate to any one character, I did find myself cheering for the female doctor's demise. She and her high heals deserved everthing she got! Ha

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 22:44:49 Author: Hennes, Jack <ff_jhennes@seovec.org> Subject: Re: Which character was your favorite?  I felt the characters were a bit unrealistic as I am sure you can tell in my summary. They were however, quite entertaining.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 10:35:03 Author: Harter, Megan <fh_mharter@seovec.org> Subject: How do you feel about the descriptive language?  I already mentioned how I felt about the gorey descriptive language. I really didn't see a point to being so gorey. I guess I justify blunt/gorey books as long as they have a purpose, such as with historical fiction. With this, I don't have any justification.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 22:48:26 Author: Hennes, Jack <ff_jhennes@seovec.org> Subject: Re: How do you feel about the descriptive language?  I would say, that since it was a horror story in part, that is why the descriptive language was used. Although I would put this book in my library, I would not use it as a class reading book.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 15:24:19 Author: Ball, Jasmine <jball@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: Discussion  Hello! I'm sorry I haven't posted until now. Today was the beginning of our new semester and I had all new classes. I was going to post yesterday after school but there was nothing to post to... Question: P.C. faces his greatest fear in this novel (being eaten alive) and overcomes it. What is a fear you have to overcome? Will facing it make it seem less?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 18:19:26 Author: Henderly, Elaine A. <elaineh@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: Discussion  Good question!!!! Although this is on a different level, one of my greatest fears is losing my two daughters. When my oldest daughter was just a baby, she had some problems which sent us to Children's Hospital. That "taste" of not having her in my life was enough to convince me that losing a child must be absolutely the worst! I never want to have to deal with such a matter.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 22:52:30 Author: Hennes, Jack <ff_jhennes@seovec.org> Subject: Re: Discussion  I would have to say, death was my greatest fear, but after facing it as many times as I have, it no longer gets me upset. I would have to say that facing it has made it very easy to deal with. I even joke about it now, so I guess my fear is pretty well gone.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 15:25:46 Author: Ball, Jasmine <jball@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: Discussion  There is a lot of gross death in this novel. Will this be too much for young students or are they immune to the violence by now? How did you do with the violence?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 22:55:03 Author: Hennes, Jack <ff_jhennes@seovec.org> Subject: Re: Discussion  Unfortunately, I think most students have seen much worse than this on T.V. and in the movies. I would not use this as a novel in the classroom I teach in however due to the age of my students. As for myself, I wasnt that disturbed by it.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 15:28:45 Author: Ball, Jasmine <jball@loganhocking.k12.oh.us> Subject: discussion  What's up with Paul Zindel and women? He had issues with his mother and now here is an evil charater, Dr. Ecenbarger, who is a strong, but evil, woman. Who did he base this character on? (Explain what's going on with Paul Zindel and female characters). Maruul seems to be a nice girl. (Based on Zindel's own sister?)

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 18:23:08 Author: Henderly, Elaine A. <elaineh@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Re: discussion  Ha Ha. Although I have read all the assigned books, I never stoppped to think of his female characters and their diabolical ways. I think this might be a good question to ask the author when we get the chance to chat with him. His females do seem to be a little on the negative side.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 23:00:30 Author: Hennes, Jack <ff_jhennes@seovec.org> Subject: Re: discussion  I dont think I can explain Zindel's position, but I must admit that he does tend to make women the negative in his writing. Perhaps there is a deep seated emotional thing going on here or maybe he just likes to use women to show that they to can be powerful and not always good. Just a thought, no real evidence or support from the reading to back any of that up with, sorry.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 18:26:04 Author: Henderly, Elaine A. <elaineh@amanda.k12.oh.us> Subject: Favorite Part  I thought the part where the first gentleman was confined in the torture cage was interesting. I read that part aloud to several of my classes. I must say this peaked their desire to read the book. Did you have a favorite part?

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 23:02:41 Author: Hennes, Jack <ff_jhennes@seovec.org> Subject: Re: Favorite Part  I felt the second half of the story was more interesting to read, mainly because there was more intrigue. The beginning was a bit slow and very predictable.

Current Forum: Reef of Death Date: 14-Jan-2003 22:30:11 Author: Hennes, Jack <ff_jhennes@seovec.org> Subject: Summary: Jaws meets James Bond  I often encourage my students to be creative in their writing and jazz it up so it is more interesting to their audience. I attempted to do that here. I hope everyone enjoys the style and the humor. I actually did enjoy this book so please dont feel I am being disrespectful. I would love to hear your comments. Paul Zindel's, "Reef of Death" opens with a Jaws style bloody attack and ends up as a James Bond super sleuth story, with girl and all. After the death of her brother,Maruul, the girl, enlists the help of an egcentric play boy to aid her in locating the life saving treasure belonging to her tribe according to tribal legend. Cliff, the play-boy, enlists the assistance of his nephew, the super sleuth, to share in the effort and the reward of the treasure hunt. Ofcourse, Cliff dies shortly after this to make way for the main characters, P.C. McPhee, the super sleuth and Maruul, a young Aboriginal girl. Left with more questions than answers after the death of Uncle Cliff, P.C. and Maruul enlist the wisdom of an old, wise tribe member who chose to live a lifestyle different than that of traditional Aboriginies. With the help of this wise old man, Wally Wallygong, they figure out that big business is not only trying to destroy their tribe, but also steal their treasure. To thwart this effort, the trio creatively find a way to get aboard a large black freightor, the Amemone and learn all they can about the plans of their evil opponent who they soon learn is a devilishly beautiful woman named Dr. Ecenbarger. Once aboard the Anemone a cat and mouse game begins during which the three heroes discover that Dr. Ecenbarger, with the help of the Aboriginal Shaman, has found the treasure and is preparing to steal it for herself. They also learn that Dr. Ecenbarger has a strange interest in animals, both alive and dead and uses her knowledge of animals to inflict horrible pain and death upon her advesaries. After being captured and left for dead, P.C. and Wally are rescued by Maruul, who manages to escape with the assistance of a finicky baboon. Now all they have to do is stop the evil doctor from stealing the treasure. Ofcourse the doctor enlists the help of her trained deep sea monster to track them down and then shows up in her super mini-sub to keep this threesome from foiling her master plan. Trapped and running out of air, P.C. uses his quick mind to create a fire to destroy the Anemone, forcing Dr. Ecenbarger to retreat and save her boat. As the doctor turns to stop the destruction, P.C. manages to damage her sub and expose her to her own sea monster, who quickly takes advantage of the opportunity. In the end, the doctor is stopped, the treasure is secured, the tribe is saved, and oh yes, P.C. will certainly get the girl.