![]() Oppel has an incredible gift for description that really helps the reader visualize what’s going on. Description (Visualization in Reading Show Don’t tell in Writing) On page 231, that closure begins to unfold. Inkling has a job to do – something he has to find (p 21-22, p 53, p 161) that will help the family through this time. Rylance’s sketchbook, which is an extension of Mr. Sarah’s birthday party (chapter 9) seems to be a catalyst for the explosion of his grief and feelings as he talks to Inkling in chapter 10 (page 118). While he does reminisce about his mom occasionally, he has to keep things going for her sake. So, Ethan’s dad is dealing with the loss of his wife, but also the loss of his creativity and the two seem to be related (p 120).Įthan is left to pick up the pieces for the rest of the family, particularly his little sister Sarah, who has Down’s Syndrome. We don’t find out until later (pg 39) that Ethan’s mom has died, but we don’t get a whole lot of details. That’s just the way it is.” He’s referring to his comic book character, but there is definitely some foreshadowing in that moment. We learn more about him from his interaction with Ethan after school (pg 25-29) and then at the bottom of page 29, he states, “Sometimes people die. Rylance is first introduced as Coma Dad (pg 11). For Sarah, he’s a joyful distraction and a loyal friend. For Ethan, he’s a patient teacher, a friend, and a non-judgmental confidant. Rylance, he helps lead him back to what’s important and overcome his writer’s block. Inkling serves a different purpose for each character in the book as they journey through their loss. One of the central themes in Inkling is how one family deals with the loss of their mom/wife. How do different people handle adversity?.How do individuals cope with stress, hardship and/or loss?.Who I’d Give It To: Upper elementary or middle school students are the target audience, but I think Inkling would appeal to students into early high school as well. From the deep themes addressed within the book, to the incredible word-pictures that Oppel creates, to the dynamic characters that drive the plot to an exciting and satisfying end, Inkling is amazing! I loved how the comic-like illustrations and ink splotches on the page added to the experience of reading the text. I loved the literary spice of an autonomous blob of ink that teaches itself to speak, write, and essentially create, by devouring other texts and images. The theme of grief and loss is handled beautifully, and we see that even within one family, different people handle grief differently. There’s something Inkling is supposed to do – to help Ethan’s dad, and ultimately the family, heal. Since Inkling came from Dad’s sketchbook, he has a special connection with Dad’s thoughts and feelings and can see his dreams, which he draws for Ethan. Inkling starts to help Ethan heal and Ethan pours out his feelings, but he also helps Ethan see things from his Dad’s point of view. H e can transform into anything and so he helps Ethan learn to draw, he amuses Sarah as a puppy, he helps Ethan’s dad overcome writers’ block. Inkling is a blob of ink that drags itself from Ethan’s fathers’ sketchbook and becomes Ethan’s new best friend and the bright spot in Ethan’s life. So, he’s got that pressure, he’s got an absentee dad who is dealing with the loss of his wife, and he’s dealing with the loss of his mother while caring for his younger sister Sarah who has Down’s Syndrome. Everyone thinks since his dad is a great artist, he should be too. Ethan lives in his father’s shadow, especially as he’s in the middle of a graphic novel project at school. Why I Finished It: This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! It was outside of my reading comfort zone, but it was such a clever, original story that I couldn’t put it down!Įthan’s father is an artist who draws graphic novels, but has hit a bit of writer’s block since his wife died. It’s rare that a single book appeals to both of us, let alone multiple books by the same author, but we discovered that we both had Inkling in our “to read” stacks as well! Why I Picked It Up: I was drawn to the cover initially, but then I noticed the author! Jessica and I both loved Oppel’s novel This Dark Endeavor about Victor Frankenstein before he became Dr.
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