Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

Creative Writing and Presentation: “Jeffrey’s Graduation Speech”

In this activity, students will write and present a creative speech from the perspective of Jeffrey at his high school graduation.

Imagine that the author is asking for your help in crafting an epilogue where Jeffrey is graduating from high school and is giving a speech at his graduation. What would this speech include in relation to his illness? Reflect on the main events of the novel, then draft a speech from the perspective of Jeffrey using first-person narration. Consider the following as you craft the graduation speech:

• What challenges did Jeffrey have to overcome in order to graduate from high school?
• Which characters had the greatest impact on his life and personal growth, and why?
• What lesson or overall takeaway might Jeffrey share with others who are struggling with their poor health or the health of a family member?
• In which ways would Jeffrey’s speech touch upon the themes of Resilience in the Face of Adversity and/or The Importance of Family?

Finally, share your speech with the class, then compare and contrast your creative writing with that of your peers.