Kensuke’s
Kingdom
Consider the first sentence of the story:
'I disappeared on the night before my twelfth
birthday'.
Why has the author used this as the first sentence.
Your ideas here:
Is it effective? Why or why not:
It’s mystery - gets you into the book
It is good - it makes you want to read more
Tries to make it interesting and exciting
It might make people worry - they might not be
able to celebrate their birthday
Introduces the main character
The book could be recommended
It lets you know there is going to be some sort
of adventure or journey
It lets the reader know that this is the person
who disappeared
Why is a sentence starter so
important?
What
would y
ou
say
Michae
l
Morpur
go
did wit
h
his firs
t
senten
ce?
The first lines of a novel
or short story must grab
the reader's attention,
enticing them to
continue past the first
page.
The first sentence
provides an opportunity
to showcase your writing
style, introduce your
main character, or
establish the main
incident that drives your
story.
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of
number four, Privet Drive,
were proud to say that they
were perfectly normal, thank
you very much.
All children, except one, grow
up.
“Where’s Papa going with that
axe?” said Fern to her mother
as they were setting the
table for breakfast.
It was seven minutes after
midnight. The dog was lying on
the grass in the middle of the
lawn in front of Mrs Shears'
house. Its eyes were closed.
Choice of
tasks
d
oul
c
ou r
y
(
1
ks s you
o
on
i
o
t
t b book .
Op
n
e
fer ther ding)
f
i
es
c
d d the o e rea
n
n
i
F
nte
at es ar
e
k
s
t
s
loo smat
r
i
f
s
he
cla
t
n
w
o
ath
.
d
s
e
e
n
k
o
it
er it is
d
ou
n
Wr ive bo
y
u
r
e
t
f
en ethe mak f
of
m
h
com ing w oes it hy? I
a
ite e say ot. D so, w
r
W
on or n ? If
h
c
ea ctive ad on
e
e
eff t to r ot?
wan why n
,
not
Op
tio
n2
Wr
tha ite fi
v
ex t you e dif
cit
ing think fere
sta
cou nt se
Un
rt
de
to ld ma nten
hav rne
c
as
e c ath
tor ke an es
hos ea
y.
c
e
h
nt
Wa
hat , exp
s it
sen lain
to
ten why
be
We
d
ce.
you
ram
int re yo
ati
oa
ut
c?
my ryin
ste
g
Did
ry? to d
you
raw
use
som
aq
eon
ues
e
tio
n?
whimpering
beseeching
trembling
savouring
diminutive
haranguing
mellifluous
snaffled
cacophony
benefactor
debris
inferno
https://www.literacyshed.com/story-starters.html
Pick your favourites from the list and write them in your book.
Write your own using these as inspiration.
Write down three of these sentences, then change them slightly to make them your own.
This one is good if you think your imagination might not be working well today.
Should Michael and
his family have set
off on a trip around
the world?
Reasons for:
Reasons against:
In your book, set
out your argument
for, or against, the
family trip on the
Peggy Sue.
You have a choice of how to present
this work:
Option 1:
Write it like a speech. Imagine you
are standing in front of of the
family, making your plea so that
they agree with your viewpoint.
Make sure you acknowledge the
other point of view, then say why
that is wrong in your opinion.
Option 2:
Write it down in bullet points, with
a new sentence on each line.
You will need more than five bullet
points. A really good piece of work
might have ten.
Kensuke's Kingdom: an extract
Those were the last words I ever wrote in my log.
After that it's just empty pages .
I tried calling Stella first, but she wouldn't come. So I
left the wheel and went forward to bring her back. I
took the ball with me to sweeten her in, to tempt her
away from the bow of the boat .
I crouched down. "Come on Stella,” I said, rolling the
ball from hand to hand. "Come and get the ball." I felt
the boat turn a little in the wind, and I knew then I
shouldn't have left the wheel. The ball rolled away from
me quite suddenly. I lunged after it, but it was gone
over the side before I could grab it. I lay there on the
deck watching it bother away into the darkness. I was
furious with myself for being so silly .
I was still cursing myself when I thought I heard the
sound of singing. Someone was singing out there in the
darkness. I called out but no one replied. So that was
what Stella had been barking at .
I looked again for my ball, but by now it had
disappeared. That ball had been very precious to me,
precious to all of us. I knew. Then I had just lost a
great deal more than a football.
I was angry with Stella. The whole thing had been her
fault. She was still barking. I couldn't hear the singing
anymore. I called her again, whistled her in. She
wouldn't come. I got to my feet and went forward. I
took her by the collar and pulled. She would not be
moved. I couldn't drag her all the way back, so I bent
down to pick her up. She was still reluctant. Then I had
her in my arms, but she was struggling.
I heard the wind above me in the sales. I remember
thinking: this is silly, you haven't got your safety
harness on, you haven't got your life jacket on, you
shouldn't be doing this. Then the boat veered violently
and I was thrown sideways. With my arms full. I had no
time to grab the guardrail. We were in the cold of the
sea before I could even open my mouth to scream.
Questions:
1.
What is Michael rolling from hand to hand
while trying to get Stella to come back?
2.
What does Michael think he can hear?
3.
Why do you think the ball had become so
precious to them all?
4.
Describe the different ways Michael tries to
get Stella back on board the Peggy Sue.
5.
How do you know that Michael’s fall into the
sea happened very quickly?
6.
EXTRA: Can you illustrate this scene?
Imagine that you were joining Michael on the Peggy Sue. What things would you take with you?
Why?