NOVELNOTES

Novel Notes
I am David

 2012 Folens Publishers

First published in 2012 by:
Folens Publishers,
Hibernian Industrial Estate,
Greenhills Road,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24

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Contents
Synopsis

About the Author

Objectives

Cross-curricular Links

Suggestions for Classroom Work

Web Links

Pre-reading Activities

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

10

Chapter 6

11

Chapter 7

12

Chapter 8

13

Book Report Sheet

14

I am David

Synopsis

I am David

avid is a twelve-year-old boy who has spent the entirety of his life in a concentration
camp in Eastern Europe. He has no idea who his parents are or how he came to be
in the camp, only that his name is David. As a means of survival, David has trained
himself not to think. Everything he knows about life so far, he learned from an older prisoner
named Johannes.
After Johannes death, a guard who David despises seems to look out for him. One day, he
helps David to escape and tells him to go to Denmark. The guard gives him a package of
bread, water and a compass.
David heads south for Salonica, sneaking on board a ship bound for Italy. Then he continues
on foot, always fearful that they are coming after him. He encounters people along his
journey, many of whom are helpful, but David is suspicious of their kindness. He does some
small favours for people and in return they give him food or money.
Davids journey is difficult and after he loses his compass he decides he must have a God. He
believes that having a God to pray to will help him on his way. He chooses to pray to a God
of the green pastures and still waters.
On one occasion, David saves a young girl from a fire. Her family feel indebted to him and
take him home to stay with them for a while. David experiences the luxuries of living in a
house and realises how different he is from other children. He is wary and unforgiving of one
of the sons, who attacks him, but is very fond of the girl, Maria.
Marias mother becomes concerned when she notices that David only ever smiles at Maria
and has very unusual ways. When he overhears a conversation between the parents, David
decides its time for him to move on. He leaves a letter for the family to thank them for their
kindness and generosity.
In Switzerland, David meets a kind young woman. He goes to her house and while he is
there he browses through some old photographs. He sees a picture of a woman who lives
in Denmark and on hearing her story, realises that she must be his mother. He sets off once
again.
His journey is hampered when he meets a cruel farmer, who forces him to work as a slave for
the winter. David takes comfort from the animals in the stables, in particular a dog who keeps
him warm at night. As spring approaches, David digs a hole under the stable and makes his
escape. The dog follows him and protects him.
When David encounters another concentration camp, the dog runs out barking and is shot.
It seems he has sacrificed himself to protect the boy. David continues, determined to reach
Denmark and finds his mothers house. He introduces himself to her and she recognises him
as her son.
Themes and issues in this novel include freedom, survival, self-acceptance, identity, courage,
strength, morals, war, holocaust, and spirituality.

Novel Notes

About the Author

nne Holm was born on September 10th 1922 in Jutland, Denmark. By the age of 20,
she had already produced a large volume of poetry. She trained and worked as a
journalist for many years. I am David was written in 1963 and is still considered among
the most important childrens books since the Second World War. It earned Holm a number of
awards and was adapted for film in 2003. Although it deals with sensitive and difficult truths,
children received the book extremely well, sending letters both to the author and to the main
character, David.

Objectives

Curriculum Objectives
The children should be enabled to engage with an increasing range
of narrative, expository and representational text; become self-reliant,
confident, independent readers; engage with books in group or in
whole-class settings; continue to keep a record of personal reading
in various forms; respond to poetry and fiction through discussion,
writing, drama, the visual arts and dance; continue to share response
to an ever-increasing variety of texts with the wider community of
readers; use comprehension skills such as analysing, confirming,
evaluating, synthesising and correlating to aid deduction, problemsolving and prediction.

Learning Outcomes
2 Write an acrostic poem.
2 Write an alternative ending to the story.
2 Redesign the front and back covers of the novel.
2 Compare and contrast the book and the movie.
2 Write a book and/or film review.
2 Write about how a main character changes throughout the story.
2 Participate in a class debate.

I am David

Cross-curricular Links
History

Children can carry out further

investigation into this period of history
and research key political figures, causes
and effects of World War Two, The Cold
War and the Holocaust. Children could
create a timeline of WWII events.

Geography

Several countries are referred to in the

novel. Children can use globes and maps
to locate these places, e.g. Italy, Denmark,
and Switzerland. Children can also draw
on a map to show Davids route.

SPHE

Children can explore the importance of

being able to relate to other people by
discussing how David struggles with
relating to other children. They can also
discuss the importance of family.

Arts

Drama: Children can choose a scene from

the book to act out in class (co-operating
and communicating in making drama).

Suggestions for Classroom Work

2 Write an acrostic poem about David.
2 Write an alternative ending to the story.
2 Redesign the front and back covers of this novel. Include the important information

as well as the short summary on the back.
2 Compare and contrast the book and the movie.
2 Write a book and/or film review.
2 Write about how the character of David has changed throughout the book.
2 Have a class debate about the real meaning of freedom.

Novel Notes

Web Links
I am David Educators Guide:

http://www.walden.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/IAmDavid_EdGuide.pdf

BBC website about WWII for kids:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/world_war2/

Website for kids about the holocaust:

http://thechildrenoftheholocaust.com/holocaust-facts/

Trailer for I am David the movie:

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/i_am_david/

Pre-reading Activities
Oral Pre-reading Questions
Chapter 1
Who do you think David is?
Chapter 2
Do you think David will talk to Johannes
again?
Chapter 3
Do you think the townspeople will look for
David?
Chapter 4
What do you think will happen the next day?

Chapter 5
Do you think David will stay with this family
for a long time?
Chapter 6
How do you think the parents will feel on
reading Davids letter?
Chapter 7
Do you think Ediths story will become
important for David? Why?
Chapter 8
Do you think the spring will be a better time
for David? What do you think will happen?

I am David
Vocabulary
Pre-teach the relevant new vocabulary in each chapter. Add new words to the word wall, ask
the students to use new words in a sentence, get the children to think of words that mean the
same thing as the new words (synonyms), etc.

The Boy in the Strip

ed Pyjamas: Com

Comprehension Activity Sheets

prehension Activity

Bruno Makes a Disc

Activity sheet

over y

Presented on the following pages are a selection of both

lower and higher order questions for each section of this
novel, which the teacher may choose from.

1. Who were Maria

Sheet 1

Chapter 1

and Lars?

2. Describe what
Brunos

mother looked like.

3. What news did

Brunos mother have
for him when he
from school?
retur

4. Why did Brun

o not

5. Why do you think

ned

like the idea of leavi

ng Berlin?

Gretel might be
called

a hopeless case?

6. If you were Brun

o, what questions
would you like to
parents? Write down
ask your
three questions.

7. What evidence
is there to suggest
that Brunos famil
off?
y were

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I am David: Comprehension Activity Sheet 1

Activity sheet

Chapter 1
1. Why does David wish never to give the man a name?

2. How does David know what age he is?

1
3. Why does David decide not to run?

4. What does David find inside the bundle?

5. What kind of creature wakes David one night? Why might this
mean danger?

6. Why does David feel that it is dangerous to lie awake for a

long time?

7. How does David feel about Johannes? Why do you think so?

8. How does David keep himself from giving up? Do you think his
approach is a good one in the face of struggle? Why?

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I am David: Comprehension Activity Sheet 2

1. What does David do in order to feel like himself again?

2. How does David get across the river?

3. What rule did the prisoners make about food? Why did they
make this rule?

Activity sheet

Activity sheet

Chapter 2

4. What story does David come up with for himself?

5. Why had David once thought he might be Jewish?

6. Why is it so difficult for David to disguise himself?

7. What, do you think, does the author mean when she says that
David decides to carry out his plan without becoming depressed
by doubts or misled by hope?

8. If you could give David one item to help him on his journey,
what would it be and why?

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I am David: Comprehension Activity Sheet 3

Activity sheet

Chapter 3
1. Why does David decide to stop travelling by night?

2. What makes David decide that he must have a God?

3. What does the woman ask David to do? Why do you think she
asks this of him?

4. Why does David decide to take care not to look at people

for too long?

5. How do you think the man and woman feel when David asks
them to look after his bundle? Why do you think so?

6. Do you think David is a proud person? Why do you think so?

7. What items does David buy with his money and why? What items
would you buy, if you were David?

8. Why does Angelo call David a clever boy? Do you think David is
clever? Explain.

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I am David: Comprehension Activity Sheet 4

Chapter 4

2. How does the boy remind David of the prison guards? What is the
only difference between them, according to him?

Activity sheet

1. Why does David not fight back against the boy?

3. David scrubs himself thoroughly after the fight. Why does he do

this, do you think?

4. Why does David feel that rescuing the little girl would be a favour
to God?

5. What do you think of Davids actions inside the burning shed?

How do you think his past experiences help him in this situation?

6. How, according to David, has God rewarded him for saving the girl?

7. What advice did Johannes give to David about politeness? Do you

think this is good advice? Why?

8. Write a description, in your own words, of the family home.

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I am David: Comprehension Activity Sheet 5

Activity sheet

Chapter 5
1. What things does David most enjoy about living in a house?

2. Which of the childrens games upsets David the most? Why do you
think this upsets him?

3. How is David different from the other children? Explain.

4. Do you think Davids treatment of Carlo is unfair? Why do you

think so?

5. How does David know that Maria is not attending one of

their schools?

6. What concerns does Marias mother have about David? Do you

think she is right to be concerned? Why do you think so?

7. How does Marias father defend David?

8. How do you think Maria feels when she discovers David leaving?
Do you think David is making the right decision? Why?

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I am David: Comprehension Activity Sheet 6

Chapter 6

2. What reasons does David give the priest for keeping his
own God?

Activity sheet

1. Why, according to David, must you always hate whats evil?

3. How does David earn money at the station?

4. Why do you think David feels completely happy when he reads

the parents note in the paper?

6
5. Why does David decide that he cannot go back to the house?
Would you have made the same decision? Why?

6. What does David feel is the most important condition in order to

go on living? Are you of the same opinion? Why?

7. What is different about the way the woman speaks to David?

How do you think David feels about this?

8. What kind of person do you think the woman is? Why?

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I am David: Comprehension Activity Sheet 7

Activity sheet

Chapter 7
1. Why is it fortunate for David that he is able to hide his thoughts
and feelings?

2. Why had the guard helped David and his mother?

3. In what way is the familys mistreatment of David amusing

to him?

4. What makes David believe that his God is cruel?

5. What does the dog do to protect David? How does David feel
about this?

6. In this chapter David decides to write to Carlo. Imagine that you

are David and write a short letter to Carlo.

7
7. What advice did Johannes give David about blame and
responsibility? Do you think this is good advice? Why?

8. Why do you think it was so important to David that the dog

should come of its own free will?

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I am David: Comprehension Activity Sheet 8

Chapter 8
Activity sheet

1. Why does the Swiss man say David was honest?

2. People call Davids dog a sheep in wolfs clothing. What do you

think they mean by this?

3. How does David feel when he sees the camp up ahead?

4. Why does David feel that he will now run from the guards? What
has changed for David, do you think?

5. What is the last thing David asks of God? What does this tell you
about David?

6. What does Kings act of sacrifice teach David? Why is this

important, do you think?

7. Why does David feel that unless his happiest dreams come true, it
will be the end of him?

8. Do you like the ending of this book? Would you have preferred a
different ending? What do you think will happen to David next?

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Book Report Sheet

If you dont have enough space to write your answers, use the notes section on the following pages.

Pupils name:
Title of book:

Class:
Author:

Date:

Illustrator:

book report sheet

Setting (where the story took place):

List the main characters:

2.

3.

4.

1.

Write about each of the following:

Your favourite character:
The plot:
The climax:
The ending:
Write four adjectives to describe this book:
1.

2.

3.

4.

Did you like the book? Why?/Why not?

Grade the book (

Easy to read

Tick one)
Just right

Rate the book out of ten:

A little difficult

Difficult

/10
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I am David: Notes

Notes

Notes

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I am David: Notes

Notes
Notes

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