Title: Lockie and Dadge
Author: Frank Murphy
Plot:
Lockie was an orphan who has been placed into a foster home. Somehow, he was a misfit and never settled in despite moving into 3 foster homes. At the last foster home, he decided to leave and run away. He meets up with some odd-bods – Dadge and his strange friends, Pasha and Mammy Tallon. When he is with them, he doesn’t feel like an outsider for the very first time.
What you have learnt or notice from the writer of the book about characterizations?
a)Main characters: Lockie, Dadge, Pasha and Mammy Tallon
b)Personality:
Lockie: stubborn, bad tempered, earns for a warm and happy family.
Dadge: daring and kind
Pasha: smart thinking and old fashioned
Mammy Tallon: wise and old fashioned
c) How did the personalities play out in the story to make the story more alive and interesting? Give examples quoted from the books.
Lockie always insisted that what he thought was right and would not even allow others to explain. Despite that, deep in his heart he has earned for a warm and loving family. He did not need to be in a rich family with posh cars and servants. He just wants a happy family.
Dadge was a skinny and frail-looking, with a face more pale than the dark stubble of his unshaven jaws. Yet so, he dares to fight with a man as strong as a bull.
Pasha and Mammy Tallon are husband and wife, both being very old fashioned. They have a difference, which Pasha is smart thinking while Mammy Tallon is a wise lady.
This story shows the relationship of the characters being as close as a family. The author must have understood how it feels like when one loses his/her family.
d) What did you learn from this author about building interesting characters?
I learnt that to make my characters in my story more interesting, I have to plan and understand how the character is like and how they feel.
Style of writing:
a) The author is good at using good descriptive sentences for places.
Eg.
-Clouds the colour of mud covered the sky, and it wasn’t twilight all day, as if the sun had turned its back.
-A wreath of whitish smoke rose from the chimney at the near end and drifted towards them.
b) The author uses other words after a speech instead of ‘said’.
-“Dadge!” Lockie blurted out.
-“Two of them?” Pasha asked in disbelief.
Recommendation:
Quite a few parts on suspense which allows reader to be more absorbed in the story. Lots of dialogues to show how characters are like. Interesting plot and a warm hearted compelling story. Worth to read.
Stars:
4 stars for entertainment
4 stars for learning