In “ A Hare In The Elephant’s Trunk” by Jan L. Coates , Jacob Deng is a very strong boy who has grown up thinking that he would rather be a soldier then go to school. Over Jacob's time walking to refugee camps Jacob has transferred his ideals and now likes learning and wants to go to school to help stop the war by not having conflict but solving by using words. What helped Jacob switch his idea of what he wants to do in his life is being able to go to school in Kenya. The school and his teacher in Kenya changed the way Jacob thought of the war. The school showed how much of the world involves books and words and how words can solve conflict instead of guns. This quote on page 232 “I shall turn the land upside down,I shall change the land. I am a small boy but I am a man. I sit in the place where words flow…” shows that believes that he is the change and by going to school he will bring peace to Sudan. The school shuts down in Kenya and Jacob must find a way to go to another school somewhere and he is told there is a great school in Nairobi so Jacob has to use his knowledge to trade his supplies and give knowledge to kids to trade for tobacco and than use his knowledge and tobacco to trade for goats and then sells the goats for cash to then go to school. After Jacob gets his money he goes to one of the schools in Nairobi but they are too full and don't let Jacob go to school. Jacob then has to go to find another school he is allowed to join but he needs to have a guardian or family member to let him to school,and since Jacob doesn't have any family he must go find his family in order to go to school. Jacob does find his Uncle and gets a note signed and then gives it to the Headmaster so Jacob can go to school. Jacob then goes to school hoping now he can change the future for Sudan and make peace in the land.
HC
Very good overview of the book. WHat did you think of Jacob finding his Uncle Daniel? I think that it is great that Jacob can now go to school, and that his knowledge has helped him every step of the way. Knowledge is power, so it turns out moms can be right!
ReplyDeleteWHat did you think about Jacob naming the goats? When we see Adam again i was really hoping that it would have been Monyroor. Jacobs in school, a pretty good ending to the book, it is too bad that we did not get anymore information, extending , maybe Jacob's or his Uncles thoughts, after JAcobs starts school.