62 pages • 2 hours read
AviThe Fighting Ground
AviFiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1984A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Introduction
Teacher Introduction
The Fighting Ground
- Genre: Fiction; historical fiction; young adult
- Originally Published: 1984
- Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 580L; grades 4-7
- Structure/Length: Approximately 160 pages; approximately 3 hours and 6 minutes on audio
- Protagonist/Central Conflict: When 13-year-old Jonathan becomes a soldier for a day during the Revolutionary War, he eagerly joins the fight against the Hessians—but soon faces the grim realities of war. The central conflict revolves around Jonathan’s initial excitement for battle, which is quickly replaced by fear and moral questioning as he confronts the consequences of violence and the meaning of courage.
- Potential Sensitivity Issues: Depictions of wartime violence; themes of fear, morality, and the loss of innocence; the harsh realities of historical conflict
Avi, Author
- Bio: Edward Irving Wortis, pen name Avi; born in 1937; an American author of young adult and children’s literature; written over eighty books; known for his diverse works spanning various genres—including historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery—as well as his engaging narratives and complex characters
- Other Works: Nothing But the Truth (1991); Poppy (1995); Crispin: The Cross of Lead (2002)
- Awards: Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction (1984); Newbery Medal (2003)
CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:
- Glory Versus Tragedy in War
- Adapting to a Crisis
- Kindness or Brutality in a Crisis
STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:
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