Dear Mr Kilmer

Chapter 2:How The

War Changed Turtle
Lake
Synopsis
It was now April and the United States are at war with
Germany.One morning,Richard's English teacher,Mrs.
Hansen,told the class that a famous poet,Joyce Kilmer has just
volunteered for army service in the ongoing world war.She read
a poem entitled "Trees" written by Joyce Kilmer,who worked at
the New York Times newspaper.Richard fascinated by the
beauty of the simple poem.Richard borrowed Mrs. Hansen
poetry book.He also found the address of Kilmers workplace
and wrote it down.As he was leaving school,he saw a
classmate,Hannah Schermer,the pretty German girl was crying
in the hallway because someone had scribbled Dirty Hun on
her book cover.Richard told his classmates what had
happened.They felt that the Schermers are not acceptable
because they were originally from Germany.Back home,Richard
decided to contact Joyce Kilmer,he wrote a letter to
Kilmer,expressing his admiration and sharing about his own
poetry writing.He posted the letter to Joyce Kilmer at The New
York Times.
Character and
characteristics
Richard Knight

-Loves nature anddoing farm work.

-Loves poetry and begins to write to a poet who is serving
in the war.
-Admirer the poet and want to become like Mr. Kilmer.
-Pactriotic : When the class felt poems and poets are sissy,
he was the only one who interested with that class.
-He met Mrs Hansen and borrowed the Trees and Other
Poems book.
-He worked hard and got excellent grades.
-He was enjoying all his tenth-grade classes.

Gus
-A mediocre student,more concerned with sports and
socialising than schoolwork.
Mrs. Hansen
-She was strict but caring.
-A good English teacher who is introduces the poetry of Kilmerto the
class.

Abner Lewis and Harry Carver

-Troublemakers : Groaned when Mrs. Hansen announced to begin a
class with a poem.

Hannah Schermers
-Richards classmate : Beautiful,with blue eyes and blonde hair like
corn silk
-She is upset at being called a Hun, a derogatory term for Germans.

Blanche Freebold
-A dark-haired girl whose parents owned the grocery store.
-Ignorant and prejudiced : Thought that Hannah was a Hun,believed
the rumor about Germans cutting people in half in Belgium.

Mr. Knight(Pa)
-Responsible : Sometimes he drove Richard and Gus to school in the
familys Model T-Ford.
Important event
Richard decided to write to Mr Kilmer,he
introduce himself and told him that he liked
his simple poems and shared about his secret
poetry writing. He send the letter to the New
York Times.
Moral value
-We must be creative
-We must be brave
-We must respect for others