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Re: Literature based lessons  Thursday, 08-Feb-01 21:33:33 I don't know of any formal teaching guides. But here are some ideas: Off the cuff: -some sort of comparison between the climate in 1985 and 2001 re: AIDS awareness and education, tolerance of others; -a look at the reaction of each family member to Pete's illness and him being at home; a look at the family's relationships with one another; -a sample journal from one of the character's point of view such as Pete's, Nicki's, Mr. or Mrs. Rudd, etc. trying to convey how they might be feeling and what they're thinking about in contrast to Erick's concerns; -a class letter or individual notes to the author regarding reactions and/or questions about the book which could be posted or sent to this website for visitors andthe author, M.E. Kerr. Another suggestion is to take a look at a lesson plan, really a unit plan, by Keith Stiles at Western Carolina University. It is called  Bringing the Outsider In: A Unit Plan for Understanding and Accepting Differences also found at http://www.kstiles.com/NCTE_Presentation.htm. He focuses on The Painted Bird, The Chocolate War and Night Kites. Best of luck. I'll write more if I think of it. Michelle Michelle, Webmaster   Re: Re: Literature based lessons  Thursday, 08-Feb-01 23:36:42 Hi! What wonderful suggestion Michelle has! I promise to answer any questions the kids post on the website, too. Thanks for your interest in my book. Kids might also like Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack...and Shoebag, under my other pseudonym, Mary James. The latter is for younger kids, but I've found all ages respond to the underdog theme of the book. Good luck! Mekerr M.E.Kerr

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Re: what the m e kerr books have meant to me...  Thursday, 01-Feb-01 00:43:39 What a great treat for me tonight, to read your e-mail, John. You sound very sensitive and interesting and it's probably a tribute to you that you're an outcast in your small town. I've always warmed to the ones who don't walk in step. I write for them. I hope to make them see the value of the individual, of sticking up for yourself, and of appreciating the experience of being different. It's a richer life experience, but sometimes it takes us too long to see it and believe it. Then when we do, well - it's all worth it. So thanks, John, and hang in there. M.E. Kerr M.E. Kerr Re: what the m e kerr books have meant to me...  Thursday, 01-Feb-01 17:29:59 John- Thanks for posting your message here and sharing your experiences re: reading M.E. Kerr. Obviously, I love all of her books as well. It's nice to hear from fellow readers! Michelle Michelle/Webmaster

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Re: Re: Touring  Monday, 29-Jan-01 01:02:16 I e-mailed you thanks for the nice words about Packer. It's great to have fans from the fifties out there. I liked being Packer, too. I lost interest after my editor, Dick Carroll died. Thanks again! Ciao!mek Mekerr   Re: Re: Touring (Mekerr) (29-Jan-01 01:02:16)

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Re: Fell?  Wednesday, 24-Jan-01 00:06:24 There are only three booksin the Fell series: Fell, Fell Back and Fell Down. Soon they will be available in one volumne, all three, called The Fell Books. I'm glad you like Fell. I don't know if I'll ever write a 4th. Thanks for your interest! Mekerr M.E. Kerr

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Re: speaking to aspiring high school writers  Friday, 19-Jan-01 01:21:06 I appreciate Nadine's interest and suggested a phone hook up. mekerr Mekerr

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Re: Little Little Ending  Saturday, 06-Jan-01 13:55:31 Hi! No, she will not dump, Sydney. But she is a little jealous of him now because teacher is reading his work when she is supposed to be the writer. So she's in a bad mood. She'd have to be to say her mother is right about anything. I'm glad you like Little Little, and thanks for telling me. Cheers! Mekerr M.E. Kerr

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Re: 2001  Sunday, 31-Dec-00 13:33:58 Give up sugar?! I should give up coffee, but I'll indulge myself a little while longer. I'd like to be more industrious and productive in the new year. That's so serious though. Let me think of a fun one...I will learn a new cooking repertoire - at least one new recipe a month! Happy 2001, everyone!  Michelle

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Re: I have an important question  Wednesday, 13-Dec-00 00:36:36 You're in the right place, Julia. Look at the 2000 inteview where I speak of What Became of Her, and then also glance at Comments and reviews. Good luck...and if you have a more specific question, you know how to reach me. Thanks for your interest! mekerr M.E. Kerr   Re: Re: I have an important question  Wednesday, 13-Dec-00 15:01:52 Julia- There are also links to reviews in the References Section. Or if you want to be more direct, click here for Reviews at Harpercollins.com or Reviews at Amazon.com. Also, as M. E Kerr said, she speaks a lot of What Became of Her in this Interview with M.E. Kerr, 2000. Thanks for visiting the site. Good luck with your project! Michelle, Webmaster update: I changed the links so they go to mekerr.com. I just realized I didn't update other links so please remember I have not been updating the old pages. The newest info is at mekerr.com. Thanks!

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Re: Charlotte Zolotow and Crescent Dragonwagon  Tuesday, 12-Dec-00 15:18:49 Before she retired, Charlotte Zolotow edited books by M.E. Kerr, among other authors. You can learn more about her and M.E. Kerr's thoughts about her by clicking here: Charlotte Zolotow. Michelle, Webmaster

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Re: Answering questions  Thursday, 07-Dec-00 15:58:44 Click here for a longer list of Awards: Awards and Honors. Michelle, Webmaster

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Re: I stay near you  Wednesday, 15-Nov-00 00:35:24 Very original, Arenne! That's an entirely new way to look at it. You sound like a writer to me...Anyway, congratulations on your creativity and thanks for sharing it with everyone! Cheers! Mekerr I'd be curious to know where you're from and how old you are, if you care to say. mek Mekerr

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Re: Goodbye, Bob Cormier  Wednesday, 08-Nov-00 17:39:09 Thanks for letting us know. I missed that news! Coincidentally, about a week or so ago, I watched "The Chocolate War" in movie form on cable. It wasn't anywhere nearly as compelling as the actual book, but it was still interesting to see a rendition of it. I can definitely see similarities in themes between The Chocolate War and Fell. I have had the book Fade by Cormier on my bookshelf for awhile but haven't read it yet. I'll have to dust it off and read it in tribute to his memory. I remember being riveted by his book I Am the Cheese sometime in grade school or junior high. I'll have to check that out again soon. Michelle/Webmaster

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Re: I Stay Near You  Monday, 30-Oct-00 10:27:55 M from Amsterdam- Thanks for visiting the site and leaving your imprints. Sorry the guestbook acted up on you but I'm glad you persisted. I also like I Stay Near You and think of it whenever I see a harpist (do you get the tv show "The Gilmore Girls" over there? there is a harpist in the show). Anyway, I hope you get a chance to read M. E. Kerr's latest book "What Became of Her." I really enjoyed that one, too. Michelle/Webmaster

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Re: question  Friday, 20-Oct-00 01:05:52 Yes, the lesbian sensitivity is mine but I was not born on a farm, and knew nothing about farm life until I researched this book. That is what writing is all about. Wherever you go, there you are, but often the places and people come from research, or someone to whom you listened hard, or people you've known, imagined, wanted to be. As a youngster living my teen years in the 1940's, I did not have Evie's strength, and the times were very different, too, and my mother would never, ever have been as nice about it all as Evie's mother was. Thanks a lot for your interest and good luck with your project. M. E. Kerr. m.e. kerr

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Re: I Stay Near You  Friday, 06-Oct-00 16:46:02 Are you thinking of the song that's quoted? That is titled "I Had the Craziest Dream." But it's not by ESVM. Michelle   Re: I Stay Near You  Friday, 06-Oct-00 17:38:06 I could have sworn there was a poem prefacing the book by ESVM... maybe i'm imagining things! Samantha Re: Re: I Stay Near You  Friday, 06-Oct-00 21:27:02 You're right there was a Millay poem mentioned. It is called Aubade. A beautiful poem, too, but one which would be considered risque in those days. I wanted to quote it but could not get permission from Ms. Millay's sister, who governs her literary properties. Reference to it in I Stay Near You is on page 50 of the hardcover. In the text it comes near the beginning of the book, shortly after a list of New Words Mildred had made, about 6 paragraph away. Cheers! Mekerr M.E. Kerr   Re: I Stay Near You  Friday, 06-Oct-00 23:43:11 Thank you so much! That poem is a hard one to find, having the title helped immensely! lol. Thanks again, Sam Samantha   What I Really Think of You  Tuesday, 31-Oct-00 09:19:01 How did Ms. Kerr know so much about Pentecostals? Did she used to be one? Katie   Re: What I Really Think of You  Wednesday, 08-Nov-00 17:27:12 Katie- I asked Ms. Kerr your question about how she seems to know so much about Pentecostals and this was her response:  "I'm not and never was a Pentacostal, but I am always interested in other people's beliefs/religions/whatever, I did go to Pentacostal services and like churches while researching the book, and watched alot of Sunday morning TV preachers. M.E. Kerr 11/7/00" Michelle/Webmaster

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Re: Banned Book Week 9/23 - 9/30/00  Friday, 29-Sep-00 17:15:38 Oops, I meant to write, "here ARE The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–1999. Michelle Re: Banned Book Week 9/23 - 9/30/00  Friday, 29-Sep-00 23:01:20 Gentlehands was also brought up before a school board in Ohio because of mention of marijuana. The teacher felt there was nothing positive in the mention (indeed one chracter's life seems to have been ruined by habitual use)..and he defended it, with a statement from me. It was just one parent, who had persuaded neighbors to sign a petition. One neighbor admitted she had never read the book and another chnaged her mind upon reading it. The board would not ban it. Also, a parent complained to a school that LINGER seemed to present people against that war(Gulf war) in a better light than those for it. I said that was likely because I was against that war, and had gotten my inspiration for the book from a newspaper photo of a young man who came back looking like a monster because the tank he was in was hit by "friendly fire." The school did not take the book from the library. Yes, Dinky was citicized greatly for "shoots smack" in the title. I felt it was provocative, and since she didn't have anything to do with dope, okay to use it that way. Mekerr

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