Reading Strategies Book Using The Maid by Nita Prose

What's Your Problem: Strategy 5.8

Problem: Molly is accused of the murder of Mr. Black.

The Grand Regency Hotel is where Molly works. It is where Mr. Black dies, and where she interacts with people on a daily basis. Molly is on the autistic spectrum. Because the way her brain works, she has difficulty reading social cues. In the past, her Gran would help her, but since her passing she does not have anyone to help navigate and interpret the events that are going on around her. As a result, when she is questioned by the police regarding discovering Mr. Black's body. Though she is truthful, she is not forthcoming about all she has seen and heard. In addition, because she is lonely and wants to fit in, she misinterprets other's actions, and therefore trusts the wrong people.

Theme: Prejudice

Most people think of prejudice as a race or a culture thing. But prejudice also occurs against people who go go against the grain, that function differently the the norm. Molly is on the autistic spectrum. She has difficulty interpreting social cues and facial expressions. For her, it is much easier to exist in an orderly world, and so she loves being a maid and restoring order in the hotel rooms she cleans. But because she speaks and moves with a rigid formality, and interprets things literally, the staff at the Grand Regency Hotel has made preconceived judgements and opinions about her, calling her Robo Molly, and other disparaging names. Molly is aware of these names the other members of the staff are calling her. She sees them laughing and snickering behind her back. Instead of trying to get to know her; understanding and appreciating her photographic memory; and of instead of supporting her and helping her navigate socially, they chose to ridicule and isolate her.

#sketchotes #themaid #reading strategies

Comments

Book Reviw: The Radius of Us

The Radius of Us by Marie Marquardt is about Gretchen and Phoenix. Both have experienced extreme trauma resulting in mental health issues that plague them and prevent them from moving forward in life. Despite Phoenix inadvertently triggering a panic attach in Gretchen, they come together and support one another as they battle through extreme anxiety and halting guilt. What I loved about the book was that the author, Marie Marquardt, is an active member at El Refugio - a non profit that serves detained immigrants. When she tells Phoenix's story as he makes his way out of El Salvador with his younger brother, and awaits the US Courts decisions about remaining in the US, it is authentic. She knows the stories of people like Phoenix and writes his story with compassion and empathy. What I did not understand was why Gretchen seeks out Phoenix, after fleeing from him when he appears out of nowhere at the park. Not only does she take off with her litt...

Vanished Book Review

Vanished by Sheela Chari Vanished I am not sure how Vanished by Sheela Chari came to my attention. Truly, I have only really been looking at middle school and young adult novels written and published in the past couple of years for my school library. Yet somehow I found it, and somehow I bought two copies. I so enjoyed this story of Neela, and Indian - American girl, whose cherished instrument, a veena, is stolen from under her nose. Determined to find it, Neela fits together clues; enlist the help of an unlikely friend, and travels to India in pursuit of it. I love learning from books. I learned about the veena - an instrument I am not at all familiar with. And if one talks about the music of India, one must start with the veena. Neela and her family speak Tamil. I was also not familiar at all with this South Asian language till this book. I also loved that Neela was both Ame...

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning Everything: Book Review

Sia Martinez & the Moonlit Beginning Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland plot twist Sia Martinez is angry! The local sheriff stalked her mother, reported her to ICE, and had her deported to Mexico. Her mother is denied re-entry into the the USA, so she chooses to cross the Sonoran Desert and disappears. Presumed dead, Sia publicly accuses the sheriff of murder. But while Sia is out in the desert for a school project, UFO crash lands and out steps her mom. Sia Martinez & the Moonlit Beginning of Everything has unique plot twists that intertwine with first love, conspiracy theories and racist social views about migrant people.

Mrs. HP Teacher Librarian!

Search This Blog