Divided City

Product Information

From either side the dark openings of the tenement building mawed at him. It was the beginning of May and fairly light at this time in the evening. But even so . . . Graham glanced around. The sky was densely overcast and shadows were gathering. He shouldn’t have lingered so long after football training. A variety of activities are utilised with many drama activities incorporated which support young learners to walk in the shoes of people with different viewpoints and beliefs. Graham’s eyes widened in terror. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t take his gaze from the knife. The boy raised his knife. ‘Speak, ya wee—’ Graham shook his head. The older boy was half out of it with drink or drugs or both. The rest of them ran on. They shouted from further down the street. When I finished this book, I was a bit puzzled. I still couldn't understand, that the whole city is divided into two parts, having different religions, different traditions, different football teams... If there are so many differences, what connected these groups? Why there are living together?

Divided City by Theresa Breslin | WHSmith

If he began to run the gang of boys would think he was running from them – might mistake him for the one they were after. His heart was hammering. He didn’t want involved in this. It would be a three for story and writing, but I think the aim of this book was to put across a message to a demographic which I am not part of, and that it does very well so I bump it up to a four. Graham pressed himself against the door, glad of his skinny frame. The remainder of the gang came down the street, veering onto the pavement as they spotted him. At that moment noise and shouting erupted behind him, and Graham knew right away that he was in trouble.Nevertheless, I was so deeply impressed by this book, because it was written brilliantly. Of course, I admired the football match descriptions and the teenagers' dreams of them playing in the World Cup final. Of course, I was nearly interested in asylum seekers problem, because this is urgent problem nowadays. I would recommend this book for young adults who want to read about cultural misunderstandings, outsiders, and nationalism/tribalism. It's easy to pretend that we are all unbiased and fair, but reading books like this one help to show that there is a side to every story, including yours. Granted the dilemma of an asylum seeker from a ‘White List’ country, deemed to be safe but which isn’t, may need elucidating to a wider audience, yet while the novel is even-handed enough as between Protestant and Catholic viewpoints I struggled to see for what audience this could have been written, whom it was intended to educate. The book’s cover is emblazoned with the phrase “Carnegie Medal winning author” implying it’s for young adults. But young adults in Glasgow will know about sectarianism, those elsewhere likely not care (Northern Ireland excepted.) The incidental illustration of the usual parental restrictions on adolescent comings and goings do not expand the scope. Divided City’s earlier chapters reminded me of a certain kind of not very good Science Fiction which doesn’t trust its reader to make the connections, so too much is spelled out. And there is an overuse of exclamation marks. I would submit that YA readers deserve better. This resource has been created by the Citizens Theatre and is designed to be used in conjunction with a novel study of Divided City by Theresa Breslin (ISBN 978-0-552-55188-5). However, it can also be delivered by reading excerpts from the novel. the main characters (Joe and Graham) are two young boys who love football. they both play football and they are the two best football players of the team.

Template for Worksheet - LT Scotland

This article about a young adult novel of the 2000s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. But the Orange Walks are beginning - the annual marches that bring the city's tensions to the surface. And Joe and Graham have to decide where their loyalties lie. Breslin’s book is broad-minded and bold in the way it refuses to dodge the issues while at the same time trying to give as balanced a view as a writer can of the prejudice that divides friends, families and neighbours. Breslin’s book will grab a few headlines, and if it gets people thinking, especially young people, but just as importantly, adults, then it’s done some good. The fact that it’s also a great wee story is a bonus. It could be any street, in any city. But it's not. It's Glasgow. And it's May - the marching season. The Orange Walks have begun.Glasgow is a divided city. Catholics and Protestants; Celtic and Rangers. Stumble down the wrong street at night, and you might not find your way home again. The book is very easy to read. It has a good plot which moves along at a good pace. The book is well constructed and well written. The author uses language which is easy to understand without making the book simple and boring. A 'must read' for all teenagers and adults! I mostly liked this book. It describes the story of two boys, who belong to different religions. Also they support different football teams.

Divided City - Theresa Breslin

Ocr_converted abbyy-to-hocr 1.1.20 Ocr_module_version 0.0.17 Old_pallet IA18213 Openlibrary_edition

That we can accept each other for who we are and that we can be allowed to have different views and opinions is very important. But to realise that we can we work together and be greater than the sum of us as individuals for all that is even more. At first, I thought that Graham's character was too common, but then I realized that if it wasn't, Graham's evolution wouldn't seem so broad. However, I still think that such a marvelous book deserves better final. It is too simple and predictable. To my mind, it is so because this book is written for teenagers and in the end everybody should be happy. This works because she creates characters we both believe in and like. From Kathleen, Joe's hairdressing auntie, to Mr Sinclair, who becomes more and more important to the boys, to Jammy, an unpredictable cousin with a violent streak - everyone is a rounded individual.