The Eleventh Plague

Written by Jeff Hirsch

Report by Emme Wade

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The Eleventh Plague

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Problems & Conflicts

• Stephen's dad slips into a coma, and Stephen has no way of helping him.
• Stephen doesn't know if he should trust the strange men who claim that they can help his dad.
• Will Turner is trying to get Stephen kicked out of Settler's Landing by making him look bad (picking fights with him and claiming that Stephen started them).
• After Stephen left the Green's home to go live on his own, he finds Jenny. Jenny convinces him to go pull a prank with her on Will Turner. They set explosives in the pins of the animals he keeps outside his house.

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*I'm not going to tell anymore so that way I won't spoil the ending for you.*

Settings

Main Characters

Characters

• Stephen Quinn
• Dad (Stephen Quinn)
• Marcus Green
• Violet Green
• Jackson Green
• Jenny Tan (Green)

Themes, Point of View, Allusions, Personal Opinions, Genres, and Book Information Resources

Stephen Quinn

Allusions

Themes

• The Lord of the Rings (page 7, paragraph 3)
• Sounder, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Great Expectations (page 97, paragraph 2)
• Moby-Dick (page 144, paragraph 2)

• Death/Grief/Loss
• Communities and Ways of Life
• Survival

• B-88 crashed plane
• Settler's Landing
• The Green Family's Home
• The School
• The Barn
• The Henry Family's Home
• The Woods Outside Settler's Landing

Genres of the Book

Point of View

(and why it's important)

• Science Fiction
• Action/Adventure

Stephen Quinn is narrarating the story. I think it is important to see the story in his piont of view because teens today can relate to the feelings of Stephen. Even though Stephen has a totally different life than most teens today, teens today can still relate to the feelings that Stephen has and the actions he takes because of others actions.

Stephen's Dad

(Stephen Quinn)

My Personal Opinion

Book Information

Resources

I personally thought that this was an overall fantastic book. Jeff Hirsch does an amazing job of describing the life of a boy in a war aftermath. I would definately recommend this book to all teens and adults who enjoy action packed books that keep you reading until the very end.

• http://src.scholastic.com/bookexpert/detail_title.asp?UID=E332E72DDB1E45F20AD3002BA28699A6&subt=0&item=837020
• http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/eleventh-plague-0

Marcus Green

Stephen Quinn is a strong and ambitious fifteen year old boy. He is one of the few survivors of the war and plague. With his dad (his mother and grandfather have passed away), he travels the country, searching for things to trade with other people in exchange for food, weapons, and other materials. Stephen loves to spend free time reading books such as Lord of the Rings.

If you've noticed by the title, Stephen and his father have the same name. Stephen's dad is one of the few survivors of the war. Soon after the war, his wife Bev gave birth to a little boy that they named Stephen, after his father and grandfather. Ever since Bev died, Stephen's dad and grandfather have been watching him. Stephen's dad is caring yet he can get quite upset at times. His actions reflect those of a caring father trying to protect his son.

Marcus Green is one of the men who find Stephen and his dad. He is a kind-hearted man who won't give up until he gets what he wants. Marcus Green is married to Violet Green. Jackson Green is his only biological son. Jenny Green is his adopted daughter. Marcus helps out his friends and neighbors in Settler's Landing.

Jenny Tan (Green)

Violet Green

Violet Green is the wife of Marcus Green. She is the woman who helps Stephen's father after his accident. She loves her home and would rather die in it than leave it forever. She stands firmly in her beliefs and likes to make everything perfect, including people. She has two children: Jackson and Jenny, who is Chinese and adopted. She loves Settler's Landing and everyone in it.

Jenny is a Chinese girl adopted by the Green family. She is independent and free-spirited. Jenny is strong and very mischievious. She claims that her name is Jenny Tan, not Jenny Green, which is what everyone calls her. She wished that the war never happened... until she met Stephen Quinn.

Jackson Green

Jackson Green is the biological son of Violet and Marcus Green. He has one other sibling, Jenny, who is an adopted Chinese girl. Jackson may be young, but he is very strong and courageous. He befriends Stephen when Stephen comes into town. He has two other best friends Derrick and Martin. Jackson is a role model for people his age.