About Russell By: Rita Williams-GarciaRitaWilliams-Garci

Main characters: Which character is optimistic?

• Russell

• ominous

• His mother wouldn't take him to the doctors

• sad and accepting

• he wouldn't talk

Why did Roseland, Rita, and Russell deem their parents' separation a blessing?

• they preferred to be at peace over a battleground

• they felt it would allow them to travel more freely

• they believed it would lead to more financial stability

• they thought it would improve their social status

What was Russell's nickname?

• cobra; the kids on his track team nick named him this

• memoir; the story takes place over a span of 20 years.

• it was too expensive

• his mother didn't want him to leave state

• award winning writing of children's and young adult fiction

Characters (not main)

What do you think Russell's dream was?

What is this type of literature called? A short story or memoir?

Why did Roseland, Rita, and Russell deem their parents' separation a blessing?

What talent does Roseland hold?

• Art

• Ere

• Map

• May

What talent does Rita hold?

• painting; she has been creating art since childhood

• reading; she's been reading spontaneously since she was a youngster

• singing; she has performed in various musical productions

• dancing; she has trained in ballet since a young age

What can readers infer about the attitude of the author's mother toward her son Russell?

• memoir; the story takes place over a span of 20 years.

• negative and pessimistic

• evidence: "Mommy said, 'I 'bout figured it was nothing.'"

• since it's a narrative nonfiction my purpose in reading this text in to learn about the author's experience