Jakarta Missing by Jane Kurtz. (2001) Reading Level: Ages 9-12. 272 pages. Greenwillow/
HarperCollins. ISBN: 0060294019. $15.95 |
Jakarta Missing
by Jane Kurtz
When Dakar's family left East Africa to spend a year or
two in Cottonwood, North Dakota, Dakar's older sister, Jakarta,
insisted on staying behind in Kenya. She did stay and now she is
missing. Dakar worries - she doesn't want to but she can't help it.
What if Jakarta is caught in the middle of a Nairobi bombing? What if
Mom gets caught by hoodies and forced back into that place
without Jakarta to help? What if Dad is seized by some mysterious
disease? What if . . .? Dakarta grew up in Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, and
Senegal and now almost everything in Cottonwood requires Dakarta to be
brave. She must face finding new friends, navigating a new school, and
preparing for snow. But then the worst comes -- Jakarta is missing . .
. when she's home and when she's not. For Jakarta, Dakar will battle
the universe.
Classroom Connections
- Read an
excerpt from Jakarta Missing
- Readers often ask questions about how an author
comes to have an idea, where the author gets the various characters, if
the characters or incidents are actual people or events. Read the questions and the answers on the FAQ page.
- Collaborative Reading List -- Cultural Shock and Assimilation
- The book jacket (front and back) of this
book forshadows what goes on inside the book. Use the book jacket to
help discuss the book's characters and plot. If using the jacket before
the book is read the exercise will assist in predicting what might be
going to go on in the book. If the jacket is used after reading the
title it can serve to review the characterization and plot of the
story. The jacket might also be used to provide insight into what the
author/publisher felt were the important elements of the story.
- Activities by chapter, created by Linda Baietto of the American International School of Lagos (Nigeria). page 1 page 2. Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required to read these documents. Click the icon to download
  - Read reviews and interview about Jakarta Missing
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