Elisa Carbone

to visit White Knoll Middle School on April 5, 2005

Use one of these biography sites: Elisa Carbone biography website or DISCUS Biography to answer questions 1-5.

1.   How old is Ms. Carbone?
2.   Where was she born?

3.   In what two places does she live now?
4.   (a) What does she do for fun and (b) how do these hobbies help her write?

5.   While Ms. Carbone is obviously a talented writer, she allows us to see some of the remarks on her elementary school report cards. What were some of the “less than favorable” comments her teachers had to say?

6. What family member helped Elisa Carbone write her first book when she was a tiny child?

Match the following Carbone titles with the correct book summary. (Write the book's title on the corresponding line.) If you haven't read all of these books, you can click on the book's picture and find a summary.

Last Dance on Holladay Street

The Pack

7.   Corey wishes she lived with a normal family. One of her family members has a serious problem. She has a lot of love for this person and wants to help.

8. Nathan dreams of becoming one of the surfmen who helps to rescue sinking ships along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The racism of the post-Civil War south may thwart this dream and he may need to pursue another one.

9. Three friends each have their own problems. One has bubble gum in her hair one morning and has to get a drastic haircut; Christina has problems with one of her teachers. And Olivia has a problem she is reluctant to share even with her best friends. Can they be true to themselves or will they pose as someone they’re not?

10.   A young girl makes the right choice when confronted with joining a “business” in the old west that is less than wholesome.

11.  Based on the true story of Ann Maria Weems, this fictionalized account traces the life of a twelve-year-old slave girl who has a wonderful family around her until they are separated by a cruel master. She must decide whether to run away or stay in a life that has become unbearable..

12.  Omar and Becky befriend Akhil when he comes to their school. He has some frightening habits and some secrets he is keeping.

13.  Sarah has moved to a new town and is about to begin a new school. She has run into the younger brother of the school bully with her bicycle and the bully is not about to let her forget it. She gets into some trouble at school and generally does not make a good start to the year. She has lessons to learn.

14. In some of Ms. Carbone’s FAQ's, (a) how much time does she say it takes to write an historical novel? (b) How and why does this differ from the time it takes for a contemporary fiction book?

15. Elisa Carbone reads 6 – 12 books per month. Discover some of Ms. Carbone’s favorite books and authors on this section of her web page. Unscramble these titles:

(a) FIMKG AHH TRTEYE

(b) LSEOH

(c) VEA

(d) HRSEDAF,GIAUNEOW UH BHAT TND

(e) LLNEH TEEADCAN

(f) ETN HEA, TEY MDH, AAE RET RHE

16. Think of two questions you might want to ask Ms. Carbone when she visits.