Sample of student creative writing: by Martha (grade 9)

The students were given the opportunity to write a dialogue based on an imaginary conversation between Annie and her good friend Charlotte, who had drowned in an icy winter accident.

Annie suddenly wakes up during the middle of the night by the howls of the echoing wind. Feeling in a trance, she leaves her bed to get a glass of water. Grabbing her robe, she left her room. She passed the bathroom, but something made her stop and a weird feeling crept through her. Slowly, Annie walked back and opened her bathroom door. It shrieked with all its might and Annie cringed the whole time. Putting one foot in front of the other, she went into the bathroom and looked to see what gave her the spider in her stomach. A flash played on the mirror and Annie shook, seeing that flash morph into Charlotte.

   "Hey Annie!"  she Charlotte, waving at her. "How you doing?" In disbelief and very skeptical, Annie walked closer to the mirror.
   "Charlotte?", she whispered.
   "Yup." answered Charlotte. "So...how's things on the other side?"
    "Uh..", Annie hesitated, "Good, I guess. Are you okay.? No, wait Of course you're not, you're... dead." She clasped her hands on her mouth and stared, wide-eyed at the laughing girl in the mirror.
    "Why are you so scared? Of course I'm dead. But, I'm okay with that."
    "How?" Annie asked, with tears welling in her eyes and feeling the constriction of her chest.
    "Everyone has their time, and that one just happened to be mine. There will be a time for you, but later on down the road."
    "How do you know it was your time?" Annie cried, "If I didn't tell you go--"
    "STOP!!" Charlotte yelled in disbelief, "It's no one's fault. Whatever happens is in the hands of fate, not you."
Annie dropped to her knees and wept.
    "Annie" Charlotte whispered, "don't walk with that burden on your shoulders. Realize that everything will always fall into place. " Annie looked up to see her friend, and seeing the smile she wore with adult-like grace, she got up and smiled with her.
   "So" Annie sniffed, "How's life on the other side?"
   "Amazing!" Charlotte half yawned, half laughed. "Did--?" A crash sounded from the bottom of the stairs making both Annie and Charlotte jump.
   "Eee-yah!!" screamed Annie's mother. 

Meeting the Author: Students attend a reading by Judy Fong Bates

It was a very rainy day, and two of us had umbrellas blow inside out, but it was worth the adventure to see Judy Fong Bates speak at a local secondary school. The Girls' Novel Club was thrilled to hear the author talk about her childhood, her writing life, and the characters in her novel, Midnight at the Dragon Cafe. The question and answer period was fascinating. Students learned that Ms. Fong Bates first came to the idea of her novel when she drove across the country as a young woman and noticed that almost every small town had a Chinese restaurant. We also learned about her childhood, when she lived above the Chinese laundry run by her father. Students were happy to meet the author and have their books signed!

Recipe for Steamed Fish with Ginger and Green Onion: Dragon Cafe Family Eating

Many Chinese dishes are described in Judy Fong Bates novel, Midnight at the Dragon Cafe.  Students reading the novel are aware of the differences in food consumed by the family in family gatherings depicted in the novel, and the food served to the lo fon at the Dragon Cafe. On page 138 Annie observes,  " The quiet evening had given my mother and Lee-Kung the time to prepare a special meal. When they could they made intricate dishes, experimenting with different combinations of ingredients." But this domestic dance in the kitchen was about to change, and on page 252, we see the following example of the meal cooked for Lee-Kung's new mail order bride:

  " For supper, Lee-Kung had cooked a whole fish steamed with garlic, ginger, and green scallions..."

Here is a recipe that might be similar:

Ingredients

• 1 pound halibut fillet
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt or kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
• 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
• 1/4 cup lightly packed fresh cilantro sprigs

Directions

1. Pat halibut dry with paper towels. Rub both sides of fillet with salt. Scatter the ginger over the top of the fish and place onto a heatproof ceramic dish.
2. Place into a bamboo steamer set over several inches of gently boiling water, and cover. Gently steam for 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Pour accumulated water out of the dish and sprinkle the fillet with green onion. Drizzle both soy sauces over the surface of the fish.
4. Heat peanut and sesame oils in a small skillet over medium-high heat until they begin to smoke. When the oil is hot, carefully pour on top of the halibut fillet. The very hot oil will cause the green onions and water on top of the fish to pop and spatter all over - be careful. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and serve immediately.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 361 | Total Fat: 16.8g | Cholesterol: 73mg

Lamps in the Library and Quiet Room

This is the "quiet room" in our library. We re-purposed an underused seminar room at the back of our library.  Overhead lights are off, while table lamps provide a learning- positive atmosphere for those affected by relentless flourescent lights. This is an example of differentiated instructional space. A popular spot for silent study and for students who need "down time" or are dealing with headaches.

Midnight at the Dragon Cafe

After reading Judy Fong Bates' novel, Midnight at the Dragon Cafe, (which is the text for Toronto Public Library's ONE BOOK program,) I've been thinking about activities for a Girls' Novel Club at the school where I work as a teacher-librarian. More students are reading the book, courtesy of the TPL, and enthusiasm is cresting. Students are eagerly discussing the "mystery" of the novel-- the secrets that riddle the family. There is much discussion about the character of the mother in the novel.

In addition to weekly discussions here are some other ideas:

• Create a book display using rice bowls, chopsticks, and if possible, a menu from a Chinese restaurant. I my case, I used one from the town where I grew up. 
• Feature Chinese recipe books in addition to the menu, to highlight the differences in Chinese cuisine as related in the novel.
• Host a take-out Chinese lunch for your book club
• Create a dialogue between Annie and her mother. Have students write the dialogue, perhaps a discussion that never occurred in the novel, and have them act it out.
• Write a letter, "in role" as Annie to Elder Brother
• Charlotte's mother, Mrs. Heighington, says to Annie: "Annie, you are indeed a boon companion." What do you think this means to Annie? How is Charlotte's mother different from her own?



This is a book display in our library complete with chopsticks and take out menu from Chinese Restaurant in Brockville called The New York Cafe. The Chinese musician doll represents the opera and music in the novel.