Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies (20 page)

Serves You Right

I guess I was looking at the children's items on a menu when this idea hit me. It's hard not to notice that kids usually get stuck with the same three or four things while the adults get tons of choices. I suspect the half-clever names they give those foods on the menu don't make them taste any better. And, in case you're wondering, I'm just as bad as the dad in the story. I don't like to stop once I'm on the road.

Blood Donors

In one of my first chapter books,
The Vanishing Vampire,
the main character discovers he not only can turn himself into a bat but he can also become a swarm of insects. I think this was on my mind when the idea for “Blood Donors” hit me. I like how this one starts out as one character's struggle but ends on a much larger scale.

Abra-ca-Deborah

As I mentioned earlier, I was a magic geek in my youth. I even participated in several competitions. I didn't win first place, but I guess the judges felt sorry for me because they gave me a special trophy for humor. Unfortunately, there is a bias in magic, as there is in many areas, against women. As the father of a brilliant and amazing daughter, I am a huge fan and supporter of talented young ladies. The original “what if” idea was “what if a witch had a passion for stage magic?” The idea to put her in a competition sprung naturally from that, given my own experiences.

The Quilty Clown

As I mentioned earlier, these Weenies collections give me great freedom to experiment in all sorts of ways. I decided it would be interesting to try to write a story from the viewpoint of an infant. As for the quilted clown, someone gave my daughter one when she was very little. (It went right into a closet.) And I know a lot of people find clowns scary or creepy. (I've explored this in other stories, such as “Mr. HooHaa!” from
The Curse of the Campfire Weenies.
) Making the viewpoint character so young was a great exercise. I felt the story was scary enough to earn the coveted position as the closer for the collection.

*   *   *

So, this is my
eighth collection. The Weenies books, all together, contain more than 250 stories. Yikes. That's a lot. I feel extremely fortunate that I can share my stories with the world. I'm pretty sure there will be another collection or two (thanks to you, my readers, who've played a large part in making these books so popular). But I want to take my time, catch my breath, and give my inner artist a chance to daydream and dawdle. So it might be a while before you see number nine. Meanwhile, if you've read all eight Weenies collections and are eager for more of my work, please check out my other books. Some of them are also pretty warped and creepy.

 

READING AND ACTIVITY GUIDE

Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies and Other Warped and Creepy Tales

Ages 9–12; Grades 4–7

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

The questions and activities that follow are intended to enhance your reading of
Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies,
the eighth book in
David Lubar
's popular anthology series. The guide has been developed in alignment with the Common Core State Standards; however, please feel free to adapt this content to suit the needs and interests of your students or reading group participants.

WRITING AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

I.     Short Storytime

A.
Go to the library or search online to find a definition of
short story
as a literary form.

(Hint: visit
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/litweb10/glossary/S.aspx
.) Make a list of authors considered to be masters of this genre. With friends or classmates, discuss favorite short stories you have read.

B.
Start a reading journal for
Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies
. For each story you read, use the journal to record some or all of the following:

• The main idea or concept of the story.

• A description of the main character.

• Favorite quotations.

• Situations in which the main character is in crisis and what advice readers might offer.

• New vocabulary words and/or a list of invented words.

• Sketches inspired by the novels.

• Questions readers would like to ask the author or characters from the novels.

 

II.     Warped Wordplay and Paranormal Poetry

A.
Go to the library or search online to find definitions for the following types of literary wordplay: Spoonerism, anagram, portmanteau word, and pun. Create a list or diagram of stories from the Bleacher Weenies collection that employ each of these types of wordplay.

B.
The story “Parasites” begins with a real childhood rhyme which the author interprets in a creepy new way. Write down a familiar nursery rhyme, jump roping chant, or ditty sung to you by a parent or grandparent. Then, write 15–20 words or phrase expanding or reinterpreting this rhyme in a warped and creepy way.

C.
In 1845, acclaimed writer of macabre poems and stories, Edgar Allan Poe, published one of his most famous works, “The Raven,” which begins with the lines:

 

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

 

Use your imagination to write a creepy ending to this verse. Then, go to the library or search online to read Poe's finished poem.

(Hint: visit
http://www.poemuseum.org/works-raven.php
.) Compare Poe's first stanza with yours, and with the first stanzas completed by friends or classmates. Discuss how this exercise gives you insights into creativity and imagination.

D.
“Dominant Species” is a story about sand, a seemingly dull topic. How does the author use wordplay to make dry scientific facts creepily exciting? Think of a word that seems boring to you. Try anagramming the word or employing another type of wordplay until you come up with an exciting way to write a short story on this topic. Write a paragraph describing your story.

E.
Go to the library or search online to find a definition of the literary term
point of view
and its subcategories
limited, omniscient, first-person, second-person,
and
third-person
. What viewpoints does
David Lubar
use in the book? What types of narrators (adult, child, human, nonhuman) does he employ? Select one story from the collection and rewrite the first page from a different viewpoint than the one used by the author. Do you find this exercise easy or difficult? Write a short essay explaining why choosing the
point of view
is an important task for authors and why this might be particularly critical for writers of scary stories.

WRITING STORIES: THE BIGGER PICTURE

A.
A feature that makes the Weenie anthologies special is the author's notes which follow the stories.
David Lubar
offers insights into his story inspirations and how he grows each idea into a complete tale. Among Lubar's favorite story starters are the words, “What if…?” Make a list of 6–12 “What if” sentences of your own. Circle the two sentences you feel show the most potential for turning into a short story. If desired, write the complete story.

B.
In his April 1848 essay for
Graham's Magazine
, “The Philosophy of Composition” (pp. 163–167), writer Edgar Allan Poe wrote: “There is a radical error, I think, in the usual mode of constructing a story … I prefer commencing with the consideration of an effect.” Write a short essay explaining what you feel Poe means, and whether you believe
David Lubar
would agree or disagree with this statement and why.

C.
In his afterword,
David Lubar
discusses the particular challenges of two stories: “Healed” (“It's tricky writing about sick kids”) and “The Quilty Clown” (“Making the viewpoint character so young was a great exercise”). Write down several topics or viewpoints that might present particular writing challenges to you. Challenge yourself to write the opening paragraph for one of those stories.

D.
Make a five-columned chart with the following headings: Supernatural; Dreams and Mind Games; Greed and Selfishness; Creepy Creatures; Parents and Kids. Write the title of each
Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies
story in the column (or columns) that describe their key themes or features. Do most titles fall into one or into multiple categories? Do you think there should be additional columns in the chart and how might you title them? How does this exercise help you better understand
David Lubar
's process of creating a creepy story anthology?

E.
David Lubar
chose “Bleacher Weenies,” but which story would you choose to headline this collection? Design a new cover for this Weenies book based on your selection. Would you also change the order of the stories? Write a short explanation for your choices. Include a revised table of contents noting your revised story organization. (Hint: If you have kept a reading journal per exercise 1.b, above, it might be a helpful reference.)

F.
The story “Same Bird” was inspired by a story a friend told the author. Have you had a curious, funny, or scary experience that might make a fantastic story starter? Write a letter to
David Lubar
, describing your experience and why you think it might serve as inspiration for a story in a ninth Weenies collection.

 

Supports Common Core State Standards: W.4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1; W.4.3, 5.3, 6.3, 7.3; SL.4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1; SL.4.4, 5.4, 6.4, 7.4; RL.4.1–4, 5.1–4, 6.1–4, 7.1–4; RL. 4.6, 5.6, 6.6, 7.6.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.
Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies
is
David Lubar
's eighth Weenie story collection. Have you read other Lubar anthologies, or other story collections? Have you read other scary books? Did you begin reading this book with certain expectations? Explain your answer.

2.
At the start of the first story, “Easy Targets,” the narrator tells readers he wants to attend “PeaceJoy Charter School.” What assumptions might you make about the narrator based on the desire to attend a school with this name? What are the school and the narrator really like? In what ways does the structure and plot of this story prepare readers for the rest of this collection?

3.
In “Swing Round,” Sarah tells her friends, “It's okay to lie in the name of science.” Is this true? Do you think the author is making a larger point about scientific behaviors in the real world? In what other stories do a lack of research, ill-preparedness or idle curiosity cause scary results?

4.
“Frozen in Time” and “Two Timers” are time-travel tales. Compare and contrast these stories in terms of the method of time travel, the characters' attitudes toward being able to time travel, and the results of their time-travel journey. Would you like to try time travel? Why or why not?

5.
In “A Word or Two About These Stories” at the back of the book,
David Lubar
admits to being a “magic geek” as a kid. Do you think this admission adds insight into your reading of “All the Tricks” and “Abra-ca-Deborah”? Do you have a hobby or special interest about which you would like to write a short story? What element of your obsession would you be certain to include in your tale?

6.
“EnDANGERed” and “Urban Girl” feature supernatural characters. In what ways does the author challenge traditional views of demons? Are the demons in these stories good or bad?

7.
“Strikeout of the Bleacher Weenies” pokes some creepy fun at over-obsessed sports parents. What other stories in the collection feature indulgent, weak or angry parents? How are the kid narrators of these stories affected by their parents' imperfections? Why do you think the author chose this story with which to title this collection?

8.
“The Principle of Discipline” offers a scary and thought-provoking perspective on the issue of bullies. Do you think the narrator's fate was fair or unfair? Has this story, along with the story “Easy Targets,” affected your thoughts about the issue of bullies? Explain your answer.

9.
Throughout the collection, many characters come to bad ends as a result of their own greed, laziness, and lies. Could you argue that “Bangs in Your Eyes” is the story that best exemplifies this phenomenon? Do you think that this story collection can be read as a warning against selfishness? Explain your answers.

 

Supports Common Core State Standards: RL.4.1–4, 5.1–4, 6.1–4, 7.1–4; RL. 4.6, 5.6, 6.6, 7.6; SL.4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1; SL.4.4, 5.4, 6.4, 7.4.

 

STARSCAPE BOOKS BY
DAVID LUBAR

Flip

Hidden Talents

True Talents

Monsterrific Tales

The Bully Bug

The Gloomy Ghost

Hyde and Shriek

The Vanishing Vampire

The Unwilling Witch

The Wavering Werewolf

Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie

My Rotten Life

Dead Guy Spy

Goop Soup

The Big Stink

Enter the Zombie