Scar Town - Tristan Bancks - Stage 3/4 Huge Resource Bundle -CBCA Shortlist 2024

This is a 80+ page novel study on the brilliant book “Scar Town” by Tristan Bancks. This book is featured on the CBCA shortlist for Younger Readers in 2024.

In Scar Town, a gripping middle-years thriller by Tristan Bancks, readers are plunged into the heart of a small country town grappling with secrets, danger, and the relentless grip of drought. Set against the backdrop of a town haunted by its drowned past, Will and his friends stumble upon an eerie discovery that leads them into a web of mystery and peril. As they uncover long-buried secrets and confront sinister forces lurking in the shadows, they must navigate treacherous terrain and confront their deepest fears. With the clock ticking and tensions rising, Will and his friends must band together to unravel the truth before it’s too late. “Scar Town” is a riveting tale of courage, friendship, and resilience in the face of adversity, sure to captivate readers with its twists and turns until the very last page.

This resource consists of a section-by-section comprehension guide. The guide is divided into three chapter “chunks” - about the length I suggest for weekly independent reading. The questions cover a range of comprehension skills, from literal to inferential, plus author purpose, comparing and contrasting, summarising, predicting and much more. A comprehensive answer guide is also provided.

Each section also has a creative response, designed to be high-interest, independent and engaging. These are often linked to the Creative and Practical Arts.

This book would be suitable for a whole class read-aloud, or as a Reader’s Circle book for either Stage 3 or Stage 4.

There is a bank of ten Literacy Circle tasks, designed to be printed and laminated for future use. These involve a high degree of student choice, so as to be independent. All associated printables are also included.

There is also a writing assessment, based on the text. This is a imaginative writing task, linked to the theme of the text. This is presented as a slideshow (in PDF format) with a writing stimulus, guiding prompts, curriculum outcomes and a mini-lesson on building tension. I use prompts like this as both pre and post assessments to allow for structured learning.

I have many other literature-based resources in my store (most of them Australian) so feel free to check them out.

Happy reading!