Rain Reign

Rain Reign
Ann M. Martin

Copyright 2014

Published by A Feiwel and Friends

Reading level: 720L

Grade 3

“Newberry Honor author Martin is extremely

successful in capturing Rose’s perspective and

personality.... Filled with integrity and

determination, Rose overcomes significant

obstacles in order to do what is right.”

-Publishers Weekly, starred review

            This book written by Ann M. Martin explains the daily life of Rose who has high-functioning autism also known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Rose has a love of homonyms and strives to always to make the right decisions by following the rules and laws of everything. Rose lives with her father in Hatford, New York, who works all the time and then spends most of his nights at the bar leaving Rose alone to take care of herself. One night he brings Rose home a dog that he found lingering behind the bar in the pouring rain. Rose names the dog Rain which has two homonyms and together they formed an unbreakable bond. That is until Rain was let out in the middle of Hurricane Susan by her father and never returned. Rose and her uncle planned out a rescue mission and set out to find Rain and later discover she was not a stray dog after all. Then Rose makes one of the biggest decisions of her life and hopes that her father chooses to make the right one.

Description: Fiction, Diversity

Suggested Delivery: Small group read

Electronic Resources:

Discussion Questions

This website is a link to a list of discussion questions that the publishers have released. This also includes a short summary of the book and a little description about the author. This can be used as a pre-reading strategy.

The Right Thing Activities

This website has ideas on how to get students involved with making the right decisions and doing “the right” thing. This can be used as a post reading activity.

Vocabulary:

Autism – a mental condition which affects communication with other people

Diagnosis – to find out you have an illness

Microchip - computer chip put in a dog to hold its owner’s information

Mockery – to tease or insult

Reunited – to get returned to someone or something

Vast – a large amount

Teaching Suggestions:

1.   Use this text to show students how to make the right decisions
2.   Use this text to inform students about Asperger’s Syndrome
3.   Use this text to teach students about homonyms

Pre Reading: Have students make predictions about the text after looking at the cover of the text. After students have made their predictions, have the students read the jacket summary.

During Reading: Give students sticky notes so that while they are reading they can make note of any questions, predictions, observations, or thoughts about a certain part of the text.

           

After Reading: Have students answer the discussion questions about the text. Also have students discuss in groups why they should make the right decisions.

Writing Activity:  Have the students write a letter to Rose. The letter should include what the student was feeling while reading, what the student would have done in her shoes, how they feel about doing the right thing, and how they felt about the decisions Rose made.

Martin, A. M. (2014). Rain reign. Harrisonurg, VA.: Feiwel and Friends. Print.