I Am Not Esther Book Talk

CONFLICT

I Am Not Esther

MAN VS. MAN

MAN VS. HIMSELF

MAN VS. SUPERNATURAL

• Esther vs. herself
• Daniel vs. himself
• Esther's mom vs. herself

• Esther vs. the cult's religion
• Daniel vs. the cult's religion

What would you do if your mother suddenly abandoned you and disappeared? What would you do if she left you with a religious cult who changed your name and made you live a dramatically different life?

• Esther vs. the Pilgrim Family and the Children of Faith
• Esther vs. her mother
• Daniel vs. his family and the Children of Faith

By: Fleur Beale

A realistic fiction novel

RISING ACTION

CHARACTERS

PLOT

SETTING

KIRBY GREENLAND

THE PILGRIM FAMILY

ELLEN GREENLAND

• Ellen abandons Kirby with the Pilgrims to work at an African refugee camp, and Kirby's name is changed to Esther (a biblical name)
• Kirby is forced to follow the cult's harsh rules
• Kirby learns about Miriam, a Pilgrim sister who is apparently dead
• Esther often gets in trouble
• The Pilgrim family goes shopping for school uniforms in town, and they see Miriam, the dead sister
• Kirby realizes that Miriam was not actually dead, but banished from the family for pursuing art (an unseemly and vain thing)
• Daniel reveals that he wants to become a doctor and go to a university (it is against his religion's rules to go to college)
• Kirby goes to school and talks to Mrs. Fletcher about finding her mom
• Aunt Naomi goes to the hospital; She is very ill and close to death
• Mrs. Fletcher finds that Kirby's mother did not attend any African refugee camp that she signed up for

CLIMAX

• Fla可以ky
• Silly
• Happy and cheerful
• Fun-loving
• Nurse at a local hospital
• left home at age 16
• Doesn't like to talk about her past
• Caring and loving
• Kirby's mother

MRS. FLETCHER

The story is set in Wanganui, a small city in New Zealand. It has a hot and humid climate. Wanganui is a coastal city. It is a quiet and suburban town.

FALLING ACTION

• Independent
• Strong-willed
• Modern
• Outspoken
• Funny
• Affectionate
• Responsible
• Mature
• Feminist
• Brave and courageous
• Teenager
• Lives with her mother, never met her father

• Caleb: strict, severe, unfeeling, main guardian
• Naomi: submissive, the housewife, meek
• Daniel: Age 17, eldest child, caring, intelligent
• Rachel & Rebecca: Twins, giggly, age 12, obedient
• Abraham: Cocky and confident, smiley, rowdy
• Luke: Age 7, cheerful, quiet, small, timid, gentle
• Magdalene: Age 5, youthful, innocent, shy. excitable, easily scared, playful

At the Meet, a gathering for discussions, Daniel rejects plans of his arranged marriage and tries to get permission to become a doctor. The leaders of the cult refuse, so Daniel decides he can no longer stay in the group. He announces he will leave the group just like Miriam, and then gets beaten up. Kirby and Daniel run out and escape, although Kirby has actually started to become Esther. She thinks and prays religiously and Kirby has even begun to talk like she is really in the cult. She has conflicted thoughts about running away, but she decides in the end to go. She and Daniel escape to Mrs. Fletcher's house.

• Daniel and Kirby live with Mrs. Fletcher, and they get to live like normal teens; Daniel is allowed to continue school and go on to college
• A man named Rory Ashton comes and reveals that Kirby's mom originally was banished from the cult for getting pregnant when she was 16, and it turns out that Rory is her son (and Kirby's brother)
• Daniel and Kirby find a permanent home with an uncle that also took Miriam in
• Kirby finds her mother at a psychiatric hospital, struggling with depression

?

• Kind-faced
• Old, has wrinkles
• Gray-haired
• Friendly
• Helpful
• Guidance counselor at a high school
• Sharp and observant, notices small details
• Warm and pleasant

Thou Shalt NOT...

"As I looked at her, all I felt was pity that her life would be so narrow... that she lived by a Rule which said Thou shalt not rather than You can-- give it a go, try it, and see what happens." (page 250.)

Be yourself, and don't let anyone change or control you.