jepp, who defied the stars discussion guide

8/22/2019 Jepp, Who Defied the Stars discussion guide

1/12

B

Discussion GuiDe

Disney HYPERION BOOKS


2/12

2

About the Book

Fate: it written in the tar fromthe moment we are born?

r i it a bendable thing that

we can hape with our own hand?

Jepp o Astraveld needs to know.

He left his countryside home on the empty promise of a stranger, only to become

a captive in a strange and luxurious prison: Coudenberg Palace, the royal court o

the Spanish Inanta. Nobody warned Jepp that as a court dwar, daily injustices

would become his seemingly unshakeable ate. I the humiliations were his alone,

perhaps he could endure them, but it breaks Jepps heart to see his riend Lia

suer.

Ater Jepp and Lia perorm a daring escape rom the palace, Jepp is imprisonedagain, alone in a cage. Now, spirited across Europe by a kidnapper in a horse-

drawn carriage, Jepp is unsure where his unortunate stars may lead him.

Beore Jepp can become the master o his own destiny, he will need to prove

himsel to a brilliant and eccentric new mastera man devoted to uncovering the

secrets o the starsearn the love o a girl brave and true, and unearth the long-

buried secrets o his parentage. And he will nd that beneath the breathtaking

cruelty o the world is something else: the persistence o human kindness.

Masterully written, grippingly paced, and inspired by real historical characters,

Jepp, Who Defed the Starsis an awe-inspiring story o triumph in the ace o

unimaginable odds.

2


3/12

3

Curriculum ConnectionsADG, TG, AD sACHG

re-reading Activit

As a pre-reading activity, have students complete an anticipation guide structured

in the ollowing manner:

Instruct students to complete the guide by placing a + sign in the box next

to the statements with which they agree and a 0 next to those with which

they disagree. Tey must commit to agreement or disagreementthere are noconditional responses. Students should be assured that there are no correct or

incorrect positions.

Correlates to Common Core Standard Reading Literature: Key Ideas and Details R.L.

7.2.; Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration S.L. 7.1., S.L. 8.1.,

S.L. 9-10.1., S.L. 7.2., S.L. 8.2., S.L.9-10.2., S.L. 7.3., S.L. 8.3., S.L. 9-10.3.

3

Before After sTATTseading eading

Relationships between parents and their childrenare always complicated.

It is impossible to change your destiny.

Love can overcome all obstacles.

People are always a product o their environment.


4/12

4

riting and eearch

Te ollowing questions may be posed throughout the novel study as refective

writing prompts, or alternatively, they can be used as targeted questions or class

discussion and refection.

1 At the opening oJepp, Who Defed the Stars, Jepp states, Being a court dwar

is no easy task. I know because I failed at it. How do these introductory lines

set the stage or the events to come?

2 Ater being accosted by travelers visiting his mothers inn, Jepp states, And so

I learned the word that would come to supplant my name. But I thought noto mysel as a dwar. Whats the signicance o this incident? In what ways is

Jepp changed by this experience? In your opinion, why is labeling him so cruel?

Have you ever had a similar situation happen to you? How did you choose to

deal with it?

3 Why do Jepp and Robert eel so drawn to Lia? What is it about her

circumstances that help them move beyond their own issues to want to help

her? In what ways does her presence help them in return?


5/12

5

4 Describe Magdalene. What makes her a dynamic character? Is she the type o

person you would want to beriend? Why or why not?

5 Jepp, Who Defed the Starscontains a number o characters who exhibit avariety o strengths. Which character impresses you most (or least) with their

strength? Explain your choice.

6 Explain the signicance o the title,Jepp, Who Defed the Stars. In your opinion,

does it accurately describe the events and relationships portrayed in the novel?

Do you believe its possible to control your destiny? Why or why not?

7 Jepp oers, o be loved is the birthright o every mewling babe but, oncegrown, a man is not assured o such aection. In what ways does Jepps

relationship with Magdalene change him? And though he states, I eel as

i I have recovered the happiness o childhood, Jepp still eels compelled

to undercover the mystery o his birth and his parentage. Do you believe he

makes the right decision to leave Magdalene is search o answers? Why or why

not? Do you think its necessary or people to understand their history to be at

peace and happy? Why or why not?

8 InJepp, Who Defed the Stars, at times, ear both motivates and incapacitates

Jepp. Consider how he deals with his ears. Does he acknowledge them? In

what ways do we witness him turning to others or assistance? Who are the

people you seek out to assist you when you are araid?

9 Jepp, Who Defed the Starsis told in rst person; how would the story be

dierent i another character (besides Jepp) were telling it? Do you thinkingchanging the point o view would make the story better or worse? Why?

Correlates to Common Core Standard Reading Literature: Speaking and Listening:

Comprehension and Collaboration S.L. 7.1., S.L. 8.1., S.L. 9-10.1., S.L. 7.2.,

S.L. 8.2., S.L. 9-10.2., S.L. 7.3., S.L. 8.3., S.L.9-10.3. Writing: ext ypes and

Purposes W. 7.1., W. 8.1., W. 9-10.1., W. 7.2. W. 8.2., W. 9-.102., W. 7.3, W. 8.3,

W. 9-10.3.


6/12

xtended riting rompt

Ater Jepp identies Severinus as a spy or Ursus, Lord ycho states, Jepp, you

are hereby reed rom this contract or your service as a dwar. We hope you

shall choose to remain with us as an apprentice scholar. You have shown yoursel

more than worthy o such a position in my house. Consider the ollowing

questions: Why is ychos statement so important to Jepp? In what ways is Jepps

advancement in ychos house an opportunity or Jepp to move beyond the

traditional expectations o him by others? In your opinion, why is this so critical to

the development o Jepps sense o sel? Compose a short persuasive essay oering

your position on this issue. While considering Jepps experiences, use textual

evidence to provide specic examples to support your case.Correlates to Common Core Standard Reading Literature: Key Ideas and Details R.L.

7.1., R.L. 8.1, R.L. 9-10.1 and Writing: ext ypes and Purposes W. 7.1.,

W. 8.1., W. 9-10.1., W. 7.2. W. 8.2., W. 9-10.2., W. 7.3, W. 8.3, W. 9-10.3.

InJepp, Who Defed the Stars, part o Jepps story ocuses on his connection and

relationship with his amily and the people that matter the most to him. Consider

your most special relationships. What makes these individuals so important?Compose a personal journal entry where you share their thoughts, and be sure to

answer the ollowing questions:

1 Who are the individuals who mean the most to you?

2 Why is that particular relationship so special?

3 Whats the greatest sacrice youve made or the people you love?

4 In what ways have the changes youve experienced in your lie aected

those to whom you are closest?

o culminate, ask or volunteers to share their writing with the class.


7.1., R.L. 8.1, R.L. 9-10.1 and Writing: ext ypes and Purposes W. 7.1.,

W. 8.1., W. 9-10.1., W. 7.2., W. 8.2.,W. 9-10.2., W. 7.3., W. 8.3., W. 9-.10.3.

Writing: Production and Distribution W. 7.4., W. 8.4., W 9-10.4.

6


7/12

7

aing Thematic Connection

Consider the ollowing themes oJepp, Who Defed the Stars: Sacrice, loyalty,

courage, and perseverance. Select one o the themes and nd examples rom the

book that helps support this theme.

Create a sample Lie Lesson Chart using the model at:

http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson826/chart.pd.


7.2., R.L. 8.2, R.L. 9-10.2

aing eaning b xploring setting

Consider the variety o settings orJepp, Who Defed the Stars; why is each o these

places important to the development o Jepp? Using the descriptions provided in

the novel, illustrate the three places you believe to be most important to his story.

In addition to the illustrations, include a short explanation o the signicance o

each, and why you believe it is important.


7.1, R.L. 8.1, R.L. 9-10.1.
http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson826/chart.pdfhttp://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson826/chart.pdf


8/12

Considering Character

Create an A oem or a BiopoemTe purpose o this strategy is to help students demonstrate knowledge o acharacter inJepp, Who Defed the Starsby ollowing written prompts to complete

a poem about the individual. Students can be given the prompts to ollow on

a worksheet or alternatively, students may create an original slideshow using

PowerPoint, Prezi, or Movie Maker.

A

FIRS SANZA:

I am (name the character)

I wonder (something the character is actually curious about)

I hear (an imaginary sound the character might hear)

I see (an imaginary sight the character might see)

I want (something the character truly desires)

SECOND SANZA:

I pretend (something the character actually pretends to do)

I eel (a eeling about something imaginary)

I touch (an imaginary touch)

I worry (something that really bothers the character)

I cry (something that makes the character very sad)

I am (the rst line o the poem repeated)

HIRD SANZA:

I understand (something the character knows is true)

I say (something that the character believes in)

I dream (something the character might actually dream about)

I try (something the character really makes an eort to do)

I hope (something the character actually hopes or)

I am (the rst line o the poem repeated)

8


9/12

B

Line 1: First name

Line 2: Tree traits that describe the character

Line 3: Relative o

Line 4: Lover o (three things)

Line 5: Who eels (three things)

Line 6: Who needs (three things)

Line 7: Who ears (three things)

Line 8: Who gives (three things)

Line 9: Who would like to see (three things)

Line 10: Resident o

Line 11: Last name


7.1, R.L.8,1., R.L. 9-10.1 and Crat and Structure R. L. 7.5., R.L. 8.5, R.L. 9-10.5,

R.L.7.6., R.L. 8.6, R.L. 9-10.6

ential Quote Anali

Te language that an author uses in his work is essential to getting across the

intended meaning. Select our quotes romJepp, Who Defed the Starsthat seem

to signiy key ideas that the author hopes that readers take rom the text. Tese

might be quotes spoken by characters or might be rom the narration, and page

numbers should be included with the quotes. Have students develop a chart

with the ollowing our columns: Quote, Page Number, Relevance to the Novel,

Intended Meaning or Readers

Te intended meaning should have relevance not only to the characters in the text,

but to the lives o anyone who reads the book.


7.1., R.L. 8.1., R.L. 9-10.1.

9


10/12

10

Create riginal Jepp, Who Defed the Stars npired Art

For added novel connections, allow students to create one o the ollowing as an

additional means o exploring the novel.

Music is oten used to connect people to one another and the world at large.

Select a avorite character romJepp, Who Defed the Starsand create a CD

with an original playlist that is representative o the experiences that character

undergoes throughout the novel. Create original art or the jewel case and on the

interior, and ater including appropriate artist inormation, oer an explanation

or the selection o each song.

One o Marshs greatest strengths as a writer is her ability to oer richly

descriptive scenes. In small groups, have students select a avorite scene rom

Jepp, Who Defed the Starsand create either a digitally or manually illustrated

graphic novel or that scene. Using a digital comic strip creator (http://www.

makebeliescomix.com/Comixor http://infnitecomic.com or example), have

students begin by using the strips to create storyboards for their scene. Have

students select original art, images, and graphics. Alternatively, students could

assume the roles o two o the characters with each ones personality and voiceand have them interact with each other by creating an extension o a scene rom

one o the novels. As part o the evaluation component, consider panel size and

number o panels, transitions and layouts, artwork, writing, and lettering.

Using a variety o media, create an original piece o art that is symbolic o one

o the major themes oJepp, Who Defed the Stars(these may include but are not

limited to the ollowing: love, amily, riendship, loyalty, or sacrice).

Previews o coming attractions in the movie industry are known as trailers.

Design an original book trailer orJepp, Who Defed the Stars. Begin by creating a

storyboard, detailing which scenes you intend to incorporate in your trailer. Use

a moviemaker program o choice such as www.animoto.com. Post your nished

trailers towww.youtube.com.
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comixhttp://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comixhttp://infinitecomic.com/http://www.animoto.com/http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/http://www.animoto.com/http://infinitecomic.com/http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comixhttp://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix


11/12

ne more teptaling about bulling, and being different

A child is bullied every seven minutes on playgrounds. Adults intervene only

our percent o the time. Peers intervene eleven percent o the time, and

eighty-ve percent o the time there is NO intervention at all.

In one study o junior high and senior high students, over eighty-eight percent

said they had witnessed bullying in their schools.

Motivational speaker Mark rombino, who is three eet three inches tall, has

spoken at hundreds o schools throughout the country to help break down the

barriers associated with dierences, the negative eects o bullyingno matterhow small they seem, and the pivotal role o the bystander. For more inormation,

visit his Web site atwww.motivationalsmalltalk.org.

About the Author

katherine arh was a high schoolteacher beore moving to New York City,

where she began writing or magazines such

as Rolling Stoneand Good Housekeeping. Some

o her nonction stories about her home state

o New York have appeared in theNew York

imes. She is now the managing editor o

Te New Republicmagazine, where shespecializes in politics and culture. She now lives in Washington, D.C. She is the

author oTe Night ourist, winner o the 2008 Edgar Award or Best Juvenile

Mystery, and its sequel, Te wilight Prisoner, which are both set in New York

City. Visit her atwww.katherinemarsh.com.

11

JulianE.B

arnEs
http://www.motivationalsmalltalk.org/http://www.katherinemarsh.com/http://www.katherinemarsh.com/http://www.motivationalsmalltalk.org/


12/12

A c50%

Tis guide was created by Rose Brock, a teacher, school librarian, and doctoral

candidate at exas Womans University, specializing in childrens and young

adult literature.

Many more discussion guides can be found on the Disney Hyperion Web site at

www.disneyhyperionbooks.com.

DisneyHy Bks yk

ww w.un-requiredreading.com

Jepp, ho Defied the star

Hardcover978-1-4231-3500-5

$16.99
http://www.disneyhyperionbooks.com/http://www.un-requiredreading.com/http://www.un-requiredreading.com/http://www.disneyhyperionbooks.com/

jepp, who defied the stars discussion guide

Documents