Basic Understanding

1. Who is the narrator?
2. Make a list of all the people in her group and note their gender (M/F). You should find six.

 

3. At what time of the year did the adventure start? What annual event was about to take place?
4. Where did the group decide to go camping?
5. How did Ellie’s parents react to the camping idea?

 

6. How do you know that something extraordinary happened during the camping trip?

 

Deeper Understanding

The Setting

1. Draw a sketch map that includes Wirawee town, Mount Martin, Wombegonoo, Tailor’s Stitch and Hell (including Satan’s Steps). Make use of the information in the novel, especially Page 4.
2. Make notes about

1. the general setting (i.e. the area the teenagers come from)

 

 

b) Tailor’s Stitch and Hell

 

 

The Characters

1. Make notes about each of the 7 characters in the camping group. You have an example below. (Use a separate sheet of paper for this.)

ELLIE

• a good writer (the group choose her to write their story)
• observant, reflective (she notices insects on the surface of a pool and wonders about them)
• a country girl (has often slept under the stars)
• very practical (can ride a motorbike & drive a landrover)
• bold, unafraid (has petting sessions with boyfriend during play rehearsals )
• interested in others (curious about Lee because he is Asian)
• witty ("Oh Mr Mathers, you’re invited as long as you’re overthirty, OK?")

2. What aspect of John Marsden’s style makes Ellie so believable as a character? Jot down a few examples.

    

Vocabulary

1. Write brief definitions for each of the following words or phrases. Place an asterisk (*) beside those which are slang expressions.

• creek (p.2)
• concentric ripples (p.2) – draw them!
• in chronological order (p.2)
• go bush (p.3)
• a cauldron (p.4)
• grog and smokes (p.6)
• we were broke (p.6)
• intense curiosity about … (p.10)
• determined (p.13)
• trudge (p.13)
• having a big ego (p.14)
• goggle-eyed (p.15)

Frankie Meehan