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These Secondary Level teaching notes for Saltwater Moons were designed by Susan Coleridge, Teacher of Language and Literacy, University of Ballarat; also author of Gold Fever, a children's fiction novel.
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Pre-reading
Before starting look at the cover and discuss what is there and what it might mean. Then read the blurb, any comments and biographical notes on the author. This should give you some idea of what the story will be about.

Comprehension
Plot
1. What type of story is Saltwater Moons? (Romance, comedy, drama, thriller, real life or other. It can be a combination of these elements.)
2. Write a short outline of what happened.
3. Think of headings or titles for each chapter. Write them down. This can be done in pairs or groups.

Setting
1. Where is the story set and when are the events taking place?



Characters
1. Who are the main characters and what are they like? (Sex, age, personality etc). Think about the people you are 'seeing' in your mind's eye. Describe them.
2. Consider Sun, Mark, Tycho and Nicky. Describe your reactions to them. Do you like them/respect them/feel neutral/dislike them/ feel scorn for them? Give reasons for your answers.
3. What makes these characters interesting? Are they believable?
4. Describe the problems they face?

Style
1. Is the story told by a first or third person narrator?
2. Are there any long descriptions?

Theme and opinion
1. What are the main messages or themes? What does the author
want you to think about?
2. To what age and interest group would you expect this book to appeal? Give reasons for your answer. Would you recommend it to anyone else?
3. Grade it out of ten.

Writing activities (Responses to the comprehension questions will help here.)

1. Interview a character from the book. Use the question and answer format that is often seen in magazines.
2. Write a letter to a character in the book.
3. Choose a character from the book and describe the similarities and differences between you and that character.
4. Take on the role of one of the main characters and explain why you behaved in the way that you did.
5. Write a journal from the point of view of one or two of the secondary characters.
6. Chose two poems as quoted in the novel and discuss their meaning within the context of the story.
7. Write a new last chapter for Saltwater Moons in which things turn out quite differently.
8. Write a letter to the author explaining why you have enjoyed reading the book and asking any questions you have about it. (Remember to set this out as a letter.)

Essay questions (Responses to the comprehension questions and the writing activities will help here.)
1. How does the story make you feel or does it remind you of a particular situation in your own life? Are there experiences, feelings, discoveries and emotions stirred up by what you have read? Are these positive or negative? Draw on them and allow yourself to write freely in response to or as a result of reading this story?
2. Consider the title Saltwater Moons. Explain why or why not you think it is a good choice.
3. “It's the story of a person growing, learning, changing.” Is this true of Saltwater Moons? Discuss.
4. “After it was finished, he kissed me between the eyes and told me I was a fast learner, and I looked down at Tycho's painting and I thought: Is this me? Has all my goodness vanished within a week? Good … bad … I decided they were baby words. Meaningless …”
Comment on the meaning of the above extract. What is Sunday trying to express here?

Julie Gittus, author of Saltwater Moons