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Worse Things

In Worse Things, Jolene is a champion hockey player, who is questioning her love of the game, Blake is a football legend who suffers a season-ending injury and Amed stands on the sidelines of their lives, after leaving behind a traumatic past for a new life in Australia.

These three tweens seemingly have nothing in common but are drawn together because of their troubles and find solace and understanding in ways they never expected.

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Author- Sally Murphy

Sally is a Western Australian mum, sister, wife, daughter, and grandma. She is also an author, poet, speaker and educator and has written over 40 books.

Sally is a qualified teacher and a Doctor in poetry. She has taught in different settings from preschool to high and then university.

Click on image to visit Sally’s website

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Illustrator- Sarah Davis

Click on image to visit Sarah’s website.

In 2008, Sarah illustrated her first picture book - Mending Lucille and won the 2009 CBCA Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator.

Sarah has illustrated over 30 and designed 11 books - picture, chapter and educational books.

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Children’s Book Council of Australia

Worst Things by Sally Murphy and Sarah Davis is the Winner Young Readers 2021 CBCA Award.

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Let’s Read

Worse Things

is a verse novel to tell the story about three Tweens.

Look: At the front cover.

Observe: What can you see?

Write: Things you can see

Wonder: What is the book about?

Read: Worse Things (pg 1-27)

Listen: Worst Things by Sally Murphy

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Task

Worse Things by Sally Murphy is a verse novel about

connections between people and friendships.

Wonder: about your friendships.

Connecting: Why are you friends? Do you like different things? Do you have the same interests? What are the similarities and differences between you and a friend?

Draw: a Venn Diagram with you and your friend.

Compare: the similarities and differences between you and your friend in the venn diagram.

Extension

Using your venn diagram, write a letter to your friend explaining your friendship and why you enjoy being friends.

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Creativity Task

Graffiti Art

Re-create the Worse Things front cover with graffiti Art.

Cinquain Poems

A Cinquain Poem consists of 5 lines arranged in a special way. The first line is the topic of the poem and each line describes it.

Create a poem about your friendships

Line 1: 1 noun

Line 2: 2 adjectives

Line 3: 3 -ing action words

Line 4: 4 word phrase or feelings

Line 5: 1 synonym for your topic

Friend

Best, Close

Talking, Supporting, rejoicing

Even with distance and time

Makes me laugh hard

Expecting it

Mate