Challenge: #3 Middle School
Team Members: Sophia Nall, Macianna Kiefer
Teacher: Kim Wagner, Hendersonville Middle School
“Dead End in Norvelt” by Jack Gantos, is the story of a young boy named Jack, who is grounded for the Summer as a result of him shooting a gun’s bullet into a movie screen. His mother grounds him, and he is only permitted to complete chores around his house, and help the elderly with tasks they struggle to perform. He has a weird problem with his nose, which bleeds whenever he gets nervous.
He befriends a young-spirited elderly woman, Mrs. Volker, who he scribes for. Mrs. Volker promises Eleanor Roosevelt (the founder of Norvelt), that she would be the last living descendant of the original city-starters. She promised Eleanor that she would be the last one to leave the Earth of the original Norvelter’s. However, ever since getting her arthritis, she is unable to write obituaries, which is where Jack comes in. She talks and he scribes.
Jack loves history already, but hanging hours over at Mrs. Volker’s house, helps him realize more of his love of past stories. In the novel, there are multiple references of history repeating itself, and excerpts from previous books of wars.
All old descendents are those of older ladies, besides one man who didn’t work in the coal mines. All other men have past away from lung cancer from working in the factories and mines. This one man who didn’t, was obsessed in marrying Mrs. Volker.
(Spoiler Alert! Coming up soon!) When these older ladies start to pick off like flies, something doesn’t seem quite right. When the most recent old lady’s results of the autopsy come in, the town is in shock to find out the news of a large amount of 1080 (rat poison) in her bloodstream.
Mrs. Volker is taken in custody, until she is tied up by Mr. Spizz, her secret admirer. It turns out Mr. Spizz, had been poisoning the poor old ladies, until the only two descendents were him and her. In his twisted mind, he wanted them to be together, until the end of their lives.
Jack realizes at the end of the story, that only a true idiot, chooses to ignore history.
A big shout-out to Sophia N! She was amazing in the project, and the video!
Poison Awareness Program – clever. I really enjoyed the acting, and your Bloopers made me laugh out loud.
~Dr. Doss
I see some potential academy award winners here. Very nice video.