Swindle

Book Club Pick!  #3

Ms. Beckman's Book Club: Some books are better taught in small groups due to student interest or specific goals for certain class groups. This book is a book club pick because it will not interest everyone, but can make all the difference in a group that is interested!  This book would be a great suggestion for a group of students who claim that they do not like to read, especially those who like action movies.

Swindle
Written by Gordon Korman

Published by Scholastic, 2008

Action, Teamwork, Humor, Heist, Friendship  

 Awards:

• Rhode Island Children's Book Award 2010
  

Summary:  

Ocean's 11... with 11-year-olds, in a super stand-alone heist caper from Gordon Korman!

After a mean collector named Swindle cons him out of his most valuable baseball card, Griffin Bing must put together a band of misfits to break into Swindle's compound and recapture the card. There are many things standing in their way -- a menacing guard dog, a high-tech security system, a very secret hiding place, and their general inability to drive -- but Griffin and his team are going to get back what's rightfully his . . . even if hijinks ensue. This is Gordon Korman at his crowd-pleasing best, perfect for readers who like to hoot, howl, and heist. - Amazon

Reading Level: Lexile Framework 710L, Grade 4.4

Suggested Delivery: Independent read, reader's discussion group

Description: High-action Fiction

Key Vocabulary: gastric (53), antiseptic (114), consolation (145), ad-lib (195), prototype (210), indignant (217)

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Have students keep a list of who Griffin's heist mates are and what their skills are. This will provide students with a frame for comprehension.
2. Some students may struggle with this story because of the number of characters. Provide students with a graphic organizer to combat this issue. See below for an example. 
3. This novel may be controversial for some teachers, as it is about students successfully pulling off a heist and, arguably, being rewarded for it. Be sure to debrief students on how unrealistic the novel is so that they can distinguish the difference between fact and fiction.
   

Comprehension Strategies

Pre-Reading- It is imperative that students understand what "swindle" means before beginning so that they can understand the plot. Students could write a definition in their own words on a bookmark that is to be used during reading.

During Reading- As they read, students should be asked the following question: Pretend you are Griffin Bing. Justify two reasons why you decided to pull of the heist. A fish bowl discussion with each reading group getting a turn in the "bowl" would be an efficient way to do this.

Post-Reading- After reading, students should be asked this question: Pretend you are the cops. Justify two reasons why Griffin should not have pulled off a heist. This is a very similar question to the during reading question, but is from the opposite point of view. This question could also be addressed in a fish bowl, and help students to see two sides of an issue.

Writing Activity: After reading, students can write an opinion piece about Griffin's heist, being asked the following question: Do you think Griffin went too far? Why or why not? Explain to students that their opinion is informed, since they examined both sides of the issue during and after reading. 

Electronic Resources:

Make Me A Sandwich
 Some students may struggle with summarizing this novel because of how many characters are involved. Provide students with a fun graphic organizer to combat this issue. This organizer is shaped like a sandwich.

Top Ten Most Valuable Baseball Cards
To give students a real world perspective of this novel, show students this article, which describes the top ten most valuable baseball cards in history, and what they are worth.

Korman, G. (2008). Swindle. New York: Scholastic Press.