Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel
by Nikki Grimes
Pacing MaterialGarvey, a middle schooler who feels out of place because of his weight, struggles to find his identity and connect with his sports-loving father. Through the discovery of choir, he learns to find his own voice, gain confidence, and forge a new bond with his dad.
Big Idea
True strength comes from discovering and honoring your unique talents, even when they differ from others' expectations.
Discussion Questions
- 1.Why does Garvey use humor as a shield in his daily life?
- 2.How does the choice of free verse poetry affect how we feel for Garvey compared to prose?
- 3.In what ways does Garvey’s father change his perspective by the end of the book?
- 4.How do the hobbies we choose help define who we become?
- 5.What does 'finding your voice' mean in the context of the story?
Classroom Activities
The Verse of Me
Students write a series of free verse poems about their hidden talents or interests, modeled after Garvey's emotional journey.
The Verse of Me
Students write a series of free verse poems about their hidden talents or interests, modeled after Garvey's emotional journey.
Lesson Plan
Learning Goals
- Identify the emotional impact of free verse poetry.
- Practice expressing complex emotions through concise language.
- Reflect on personal identity and unique strengths.
- Learn how to revise work for poetic flow.
Activity Steps
- 1.Read selected excerpts from the book aloud to analyze the rhythm.
- 2.Brainstorm a list of personal interests that define the students' identity.
- 3.Draft a poem in free verse focusing on one specific interest.
- 4.Use peer-review to provide feedback on word choice and tone.
- 5.Perform a 'poetry slam' session where students read their work aloud.
Standards Connections
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.5
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.5
Pace-Write-Read Study with Pace-Write It!
Garvey's Choice teaches students the power of brevity in storytelling. By utilizing the free verse format, Nikki Grimes demonstrates how white space on a page can dictate the speed of a reader's heart, proving that less is often more when conveying emotional depth.
| Element | How to notice or teach it in the novel |
|---|---|
| Pacing | Use shorter lines to create urgency and longer lines to encourage reflective, slower reading. |
| Plot | Focus on the internal conflict of the protagonist rather than just external action sequences. |
| Prosody | Encourage students to read their poems aloud to hear the natural rise and fall of their voice. |
| Word | Select precise verbs that eliminate the need for excessive adverbs. |
| Voice & Worldview | Ensure the narrative voice reflects the authentic age and experience of the character. |
Pace-Write It!
Students spend 20 minutes rewriting a paragraph of prose into a poem to see how removing 'filler' words improves impact.