The Book of Lost Things

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Add a Fairy Tale”

In this activity, students will create an additional scene for inclusion in the story, incorporating a fairy tale not already represented in the novel.

David encounters fairy tales throughout the novel. Develop a scene incorporating an additional fairy tale that helps to further develop one of the themes.

• Review the themes and find examples of the ways in which they are developed through the fairy tales mentioned in the novel.
• Brainstorm additional fairy tales not already represented in the story.
• Brainstorm ideas for scenes.
• Decide on the plot and characters for your scene, with consideration of the ways in which a particular fairy tale would suit the scene.
• Choose a format for your scene such as a skit, prose, a poem, or a video.
• Write your scene, using accurate character voices. Shift the fairy tale in some way away from the audience’s expectations of that story in a way that serves your ideas.
• Be able to explain how the scene and fairy tale develop the theme.

Present or summarize your scene and explain the ways in which it helps to develop one of the novel’s themes.

Teaching Suggestion: Adding a scene to the novel is an opportunity to revisit key aspects of the book, including character, setting, and theme. To spark new ideas, students might revisit their work on the pre-reading activity. Encouraging students to work together can guide them to build learning together. Offering different formats provides students opportunities to build agency, try new skills, and connect format to purpose. Additionally, the class might study a resource such as “Close Reading a Text and Avoiding Pitfalls” from Purdue OWL and apply the suggestions to an analysis of their own scenes or another group’s scene. This part of the activity could take the form of a discussion or written analysis.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. David encounters nature in various forms in both his world and Elsewhere.

• What is the most significant way in which nature affects David? (topic sentence)
• As you write your essay, discuss rationale for this topic sentence in 3 points of analysis. How is the impact of nature seen? Why is this effect on David the most significant? Choose text details and examples from a variety of locations in the novel.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, briefly connect the way or ways in which David impacts nature.

2. David meets characters filled with bitterness, those who choose the opposite of bitterness, and those experiencing a mixture.

• What does the novel suggest about bitterness? (topic sentence)
• What scenes and/or characters in the novel reveal most clearly the effects of bitterness? Analyze and discuss the messages regarding bitterness in these scenes or through these characters.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, briefly explain how his insights involving bitterness contribute to David’s coming of age.

3. Consider the various descriptions of smells in the novel.

• What is the likely intended effect on readers with the use of the sense of smell? (topic sentence)
• Develop your analysis in 3 points and consider the use of cited quotations from a variety of locations in the novel to support your topic sentence.
• In your conclusion, evaluate the effectiveness of the power of smell as sensory imagery in the novel.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Consider the use of fairy tales throughout the novel. What is the significance of the fairy tales in David’s world and in Elsewhere? How does David feel about stories? How do the fairy tales shift in the forest, and what new lessons emerge? Write a 3- or 5- paragraph essay analyzing the impact of fairy tales on the story and how they reveal David’s character. Connect your analysis to the theme of Stories as a Means of Transportation.

2. David’s journeys impact him in myriad ways. His actions and choices also impact the world around him. How do David and Elsewhere affect each other? What leads most significantly to David’s changes? How do other characters react to his changes? How is Elsewhere different because of David’s time there? Which shifts are the most long-lasting? Compose a 3- or 5-paragraph essay analyzing how David and Elsewhere cause each other to change. 

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What backstory event leads to stories being important to David?

A) He enjoyed the time he and his mother read together.

B) His father bought him books from his work journeys.

C) His grandfather taught him to write fairy tales.

D) He had a favorite first grade teacher who imparts that joy.

2. What idea best describes the symbolism of the ivy near David’s window?

A) His father’s scientific expertise

B) The significance of plants to Rose

C) David’s brother’s illness

D) David’s connection to nature

3. How are Rose and the Beast similar?

A) Both exist only in Elsewhere and cause fear.

B) Both demand attention and offer comfort.

C) Both support David and offer paths to learning.

D) Both seem like enemies to David and are mothers.

4. Which statement best describes the Crooked Man?

A) The Crooked Man is misjudged and wants to help others.

B)The Crooked Man tricks people on his quest for immortality.

C) The Crooked Man guides David through Elsewhere.

D) The Crooked Man is in wonder of the natural world.

5. How are Roland and the Crooked Man opposite?

A) Roland offers support, while the Crooked Man offers danger.

B) Roland offers criticism, while the Crooked Man offers encouragement.

C) Roland offers tricks, while the Crooked Man offers truth.

D) Roland offers adventure, while the Crooked Man offers monotony.

6. How does the Woodsman help David?

A) The Woodsman offers David written advice.

B) The Woodsman teaches David about World War II.

C) The Woodsman guides and protects David in Elsewhere.

D) The Woodsman leads David to his introduction with the Crooked Man.

7. Though he becomes afraid, why does David stay in Elsewhere?

A) The entrance to his world closes, trapping him.

B) The Woodsman offers him money to stay.

C) The Crooked Man tells him it will save his brother.

D) The ivy closes his window, a signal his world is not safe.

8. In which of the following ways does nature help David?

A) The sunlight distracts the Woodsman, allowing David to escape.

B) Ivy restrains wolves to help David get to safety.

C) The trees march to surround and protect David’s castle.

D) A tornado picks up the Crooked Man and carries him away.

9. What causes David’s second journey into Elsewhere?

A) David feels his health deteriorating.

B) David seeks the Crooked Man’s wisdom.

C) David hears of a hidden treasure.

D) David wants to defeat the king.

10. Which type of figurative language does the following quotation contain? A

“The air smelled fresh and clean to him at first, but as he breathed deeply he caught a hint of something else, something less pleasant. David could almost taste it upon his tongue: a metallic sensation composed of copper and decay.” (Chapter 7)

A) Alliteration

B) Metaphor

C) Personification

D) Foreshadowing

11. What does the king’s Book of Lost Things hold?

A) The Crooked Man’s secret recipes for healing potions and magical shifting

B) David’s mother’s stories she wrote for him before dying

C) Memories from David’s world in the form of images and journal entries

D) A pathway to ending war and healing the world through empathy

12. How are David and the king similar?

A) They both try to defeat the Woodsman to gain the knowledge of magic.

B) They both attempt to lead with justice, compassion, and wisdom.

C) They both attend the same school together before going to Elsewhere.

D) They both are jealous of their siblings and tempted by the Crooked Man.

13. Which plot detail most clearly suggests David’s growing maturity?

A) His running away from the crashing plane

B) His saying “Brother” when asked his brother’s name

C) His harsh judgment of Roland after speaking with the Crooked Man

D) His attempt to join the pack of wolves in Elsewhere

14. What lesson does Anna teach David?

A) To survive at all costs

B) Compassionate forgiveness

C) The ability to navigate

D) Clear and active listening

15. Which of the following is the accurate chronological order of events?

A) David meets the Woodsman; David defeats the Crooked Man; David’s mother dies; Georgie is born.

B) David defeats the Crooked Man; David’s mother dies; Georgie is born; David meets the Woodsman.

C) David’s mother dies; Georgie is born; David meets the Woodsman; David defeats the Crooked Man.

D) Georgie is born; David meets the Woodsman; David defeats the Crooked Man; David’s mother dies.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Despite several similarities, how does David demonstrate that he is different from the king?

2. How do stories impact David as an adult?