Allergic

Written by R.J. Palacio

Published in 2021 by Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic Press

Genre: fiction, graphic novel

Reading level: grades 3-6

Suggested delivery: small group

Big Ideas (key words):

Personal Growth

Change

Family

Friendship

Vulnerability

Common Core State Standard:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g. their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.

Teaching Strategies:

Building schema before reading:

Discuss and reflect:
- What is an allergy?
- Do you have any allergies?
- What does it mean to have an allergy?

Extension of the Text:

https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/allergies.html

This source explores the meaning of allergies and offers insight into the symptoms of allergies, which Maggie struggles with in the story.

Supporting the Text:

This book trailer provides a brief synopsis of what the story is about to engage young readers' interest

During reading:

Cover essential vocabulary terms as they arise in the story:
- Denial: not believing something to be true
- Hypoallergenic: unlikely to cause an allergic reaction
- Avoidance: the act of staying away from something
- Immune: protected
- Allergy shot: regular injections to stop or reduce allergy attacks
- Abnormal: something that is not normal or ordinary
- Anaphylaxis: an allergic reaction to something to which the body has become hypersensitive
- Appointment: an arrangement to meet with someone, such as a doctor
Example discussion questions to drive comprehension:
- How does Maggie respond to having an allergy to animal fur?
  - What kinds of choices does she make to help "combat" this newfound allergy?
- How motivated is Maggie to overcome her new allergy?
  - What experiences does she encounter that could increase her motivation to overcome it?
- How does Maggie's perception of her allergy change throughout the story?
- Did Maggie ever learn from her choices and mistakes in the story? How did she grow from them?

After reading:

Students will be given the task of writing about Maggie's life twenty years from now
- Questions to guide activity:
  - How has she changed over the twenty years? In what ways?
  - How has her perception of her allergy change over the twenty years? Is she used to it or is she still working to "overcome" it?
  - What message would Maggie tell to her younger self if she could now that she is twenty years older?

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