Akata Witch

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Faster Facts for Free Agents”

In this activity, students will demonstrate their understanding of plot, character, and theme in Akata Witch by “revising” Fast Facts for Free Agents.

In Akata Witch, Sunny has a lot to learn about the Leopard world, and she must learn it quickly. Fast Facts for Free Agents is one of the sources of information she is offered—but she finds that this book is flawed by the author’s prejudice and that it sometimes offers questionable advice.

Imagine that Sunny has been offered the chance to revise this book so that it is a better resource for future Free Agents. In this activity, you will create a bulleted list that summarizes Sunny’s advice for future Free Agents: a “Faster Facts for Free Agents” that might serve as an introduction to the new edition of the book.

Part One: Consider What Sunny Would Keep and What She Would Change

• In what ways is Fast Facts for Free Agents helpful to Sunny?
• In what ways would her experiences be easier or more enjoyable if the book gave better advice?
• In what ways does the book encourage Sunny?
• In what ways does the book discourage her or imply that Free Agents like her are not as good as those born into the Leopard community?
• What kind of a person is Sunny, what does she learn over the course of the story, and how might this impact the ideas she would choose to share in her revision of the book?

Part Two: Write Ten “Facts” for Free Agents

Write your list of 10 facts as if you are Sunny, speaking directly to future Free Agents. Your list should accomplish the following objectives:

• Demonstrate your understanding of the purpose of Fast Facts for Free Agents in the context of the plot of Akata Witch
• Demonstrate that you understand Sunny as a character
• Demonstrate your understanding of what advice would have helped Sunny be most successful with the kinds of obstacles and opportunities she faces in Akata Witch
• Demonstrate your understanding of what Sunny learns about The Value and Power of Knowledge, The Importance of Belonging to Communities, and The Strength of the Individual

Part Three: Share and Reflect

When you finish, swap lists with a classmate. On a separate piece of paper, write a paragraph that explains what comparing lists reveals about similarities and differences in the way you and your classmate interpreted plot, theme, and character in Akata Witch.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity can also be completed with small groups or partners. Even if students are working individually, you might allow time for some discussion of Part One, as this will allow students to generate a wider variety of ideas. If your students are ready for a challenge, you might follow up the “Share and Reflect” portion of the activity with a discussion about the criteria for “valid” interpretations of text: how many ways are there to interpret Sunny’s character, or the book’s themes, for instance, and what is the burden of proof for a legitimate interpretation?

Differentiation Suggestion: Students practicing skills in abstract thought may benefit from assistance with the requirements in Part Two of the assignment. You might prepare a brief example list in advance and discuss with students how the items you have included either do or do not meet the criteria and how you might go about improving any “faulty” items to better meet the criteria of the assignment. English language learners, students with dyslexia, and those with attentional or executive function differences may have trouble reviewing enough text to successfully demonstrate “what advice would have helped Sunny be most successful.” These students might especially benefit from working with a partner or in a small group or from having a whole-class discussion of Part One of the assignment.