WHEN DOGS CRY - Markus Zusak
Nominated for: Book of the Year Older
Readers
Reading Age: 12 to 16
Themes: Teenagers, Boys, Brothers, Fighting, Love, Loyalty, Self-Perception.
Summary
The two brothers in this book " When
dogs cry", Cam and Rube Wolf (clue to title) are sports mad. In particular boxing
mad. As well as chicks. In particular, Octavia.
Their favourite reading is "Inside
sport" magazine (the cover girl is also sporty).
A feature of this poetic street story is
THE FIGHT – between Cam’s boxing brother Rube and his opponent. Rube features in
Zusak’s first book, "Fighting Ruben Wolfe" which is about boxing and
chicks. Add the loyalty between two brothers and you have When dogs cry which includes
boy’s poetry.
Activity (Boys
Night)
Screening of Boxing Videos with book
reading, food and display. This activity could be promoted to Indigenous and
non-Indigenous teens.
 Promotion
 Local
school
 Posters (see attached sample poster. You
can photocopy this or adapt it according to which videos you will screen)
Radio stations – Murri, Ethnic (4EB)
Local Indigenous Elders
PCYC and other Youth groups in community
Networking
High
school English Teacher and T.L. (Teacher Librarian)
Local Indigenous Elders
Local Youth Worker
Music on the Night
Midnight Oil – Red Sails in the Sunset
released 2001, its centrepiece is "Jimmy Sharman’s Boxers" a 7 minute epic
about a touring troupe of Aboriginal Boxers in Aussie’s frontier days. Available
– Contact your local music supplier
Troy Cassar-Daly - Proud Young Man
A song dedicated to some of the country’s greatest Aboriginal Boxers. The
soundscape video clip is produced by the Alice Springs based Central Australian Aboriginal
Media Association (CAAMA). Available – http://www.caama.com.au/
Display of Forgotten Champs (Aussie Boxers)
Create
a display of books, sound recordings, websites, posters, etc about Australian boxers. See
over for ideas.
Websites
Media
release (Aboriginal boxers, James ‘Swanny’ Swan
- http://www.ausport.gov.au
Books
"LORDS
OF THE RING" by Peter Corris – a history of prize fighting
in Australia bib.47224
"RINGSIDE"a knockout collection of fights & fighters: the winners,
the losers, the legends.
Sound Recordings
"HOME
BEFORE DARK" by Ruth Park – the story of LES DARCY, a great Australian hero.
Source of Films
Raging
Bull (2hrs), When We Were Kings (1.5 hrs)
Available from Trash Video, West End, Brisbane. Ph 3844 7844 Fax requests 3844 7877.
Fax requests on school or Council letterhead and the video will be sent for $4.40
plus post.
Tent Boxers (29 minutes)
Profiles the social history of the boxing tents that toured country and city Australia
from the 50s through to the 70s. Several Aboriginal boxers, Lionel Rose and George
Bracken, describe their experiences as part of JIMMY SHARMAN’S TROUPE.
Boy’s Boxing Night
(Bring a chick)
Book "When Dogs Cry"
Videos "Raging Bull"
"When We Were Kings"
"Tent Boxers" "Ali"
| Koori Boxers |
Teenage Bokers |
White Boxers |
Hamburgers and Coke
Free Entry
Book Week at the Library
19 – 24 August |
|
