Booktalking Colorado - Full Booktalk Record

Booktalking Colorado Full Record:

	Title:	Anne Frank and Me
	Author:	Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld
	Date Published:	2001
	Genre:	Historical Fiction
	Grade Level:	6 - 9
	Booktalker:	Marilyn Bunker

Notes:
Booktalk is done using different voices>

Booktalk:
First Paragraph is done very fast. CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! The Sound of gunfire echoed through the exhibition. Panic-struck, screaming people ran in every direction and dove for cover. I found myself running for the exit sign. Someone yelled “Doom’s shooting, Doom’s shooting!” Mimi yanked my arm. We were trapped in a mass of students jamming the emergency exit. “Mimi? Where are you?” Mimi yelled “Nico! I Can’t…” More screams - more crying. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder. CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! A sudden pain pierced my head and then there was nothing at all. “Nicole, Nicole.” I tried to get up. I cried, “Where is Mimi? Is she OK? Doom has a gun!! We have to get out of here,” but Urkin my school principal tried to push me back onto the couch. Then, I’m not on the floor of the museum. Someone must have rescued me. There were sirens off in the distance. I turned to see where I was, and the pain was like someone punched my skull. Weird, I thought I am in someone’s living room and it’s so old fashioned. It must be a part of the exhibit. Then, Zooms, my English teacher said “John, this is breaking my heart.” Since when did Zooms call Urkin by his first name. I asked them to at least tell me what happened. Zooms said “You fell and hit your head.” I knew that, but I asked again, ”what happened to everyone else? Where was Doom? Did Doom shoot me?” Zooms said” I think her brain is damaged. She talks about Doom as if he were a person.” I felt like screaming, “Not an it, a he.” Zooms asked, “And your last name is? I answered, “ Burns.” Zooms sighed “Bernhardt”, and then she said “ I am your Mother and this is your Father.” I laughed even though it hurt. These were definitely not my parents. Urkin asked, “Do you have any idea of where you are? Do you know that you are in Paris?” Paris! Paris, France! YIKES! “See Renee, she knows where she is.” I said, “Right, and if this is Paris, France, what language am I speaking?” “French, of course.” I am practically flunking French! The moan of the sirens completely went away. Zooms called out for Liz-Bette to bring some ice for me. I said Little-Bit isn’t here. Liz-Bette answered, “Of course, I am here.” I turned to stare at the familiar voice. Little Bit would rather chew glass then wear braids, and yet there she was with her hair in two neat braids. She was wearing a calf length plaid skirt, a white blouse, and a cardigan with white socks and some much worn shoes. And on Little Bit’s sweater was a fist-sized yellow star sewn onto the front… It had six points and on the star were the letters JUIF. I asked, “what is that thing?’ Little Bit smirked “ HA HA, very funny!” Zooms answered, “That is the Nazi’s star. You have one too.” The pain started through my head again, I blurted out, “Do you mean to tell me that I am Jewish?” Urkin said, “Of Course, we are all Jewish.” I held my head with both of my hands, and said, “You have to tell me.” My voice sounded as if it were coming from the bottom of a well. “What year is it?” The sirens began again. Urkin answered, “Nineteen forty-two, my darling child, nineteen forty-two.