Name that POV
“I stood frozen at the crosswalk, unwilling to move another inch.”
1st person
What does Fatima feel when she reaches the crosswalk?
Fear, hesitation, uncertainty
Why might Jason Reynolds choose to reveal multiple perspectives rather than only Fatima’s?
To show the complexity of events, to connect multiple characters, to deepen understanding
What does it mean to “show, not tell” in writing?
Use actions, sensory details, dialogue to illustrate feeling rather than naming it
Rewrite in second person:
When I finally walked away, my chest felt lighter. I didn’t know if they’d change, but I knew I had.
When you finally walked away, your chest felt lighter. You don't know if you've change, but you knew you had.
"You freeze in the middle of the street, the cars rushing around you.”
2nd person
What memory does Fatima recall in Chapter 6 when waiting to cross?
Her mother’s advice to look both ways
What does omniscient POV allow the narrator to show that limited POV would not?
Multiple internal thoughts, simultaneous perspectives, broader context
Identify one “showing detail” Fatima experiences in Chapter 6.
(E.g.) her heart pounding, her feet stuck, hearing car horns, etc.
Rewrite a sentence in 2nd person (e.g. “You pause at the curb”)
"You pause at the curb, heart racing."
“Fatima froze, and across the street a neighbor watched her, thinking she was messing up again.”
3rd person omniscient
Describe one sensory detail Fatima notices while crossing.
(Possible answer: The rush of wind, car sounds, her pounding heart, etc.)
How does using omniscient POV reflect the theme of “looking both ways” (literally or metaphorically)?
It encourages the reader to see multiple angles, be aware of many lives / perspectives
How does the narration show Fatima’s fear instead of telling us “she was scared”?
By describing trembling, slowing feet, rushing sounds, hesitation
Rewrite as 3rd person: "You see a notebook fall from someone’s hands. You freeze for a second, wondering if you should pick it up or pretend you didn’t see."
Liam sees a notebook fall from someone’s hands. Liam freezes for a second, wondering if he should pick it up or pretend he didn’t see.
“Fatima waited at the curb, her pulse racing.”
3rd person limited
What is Fatima’s inner conflict in this chapter?
She wants to cross but fears danger / uncertain of safety
What would be lost if the story were told in first person only?
We’d lose others’ internal thoughts / context, less scope of narrative
Choose any moment from Chapter 6 and rewrite it from a different point of view — but this time, you must use “show, don’t tell.”
Reveal what the character feels through their movements, expressions, or dialogue, not by naming emotions.
bonus points if the class can guess the emotion or point of view just from what’s shown.
Rewrite in first person: Fatima turned to face them. Her voice shook, but she forced the words out. She was tired of pretending not to hear.
I turned to face them.My voice shook, but I forced the words out. I was tired of pretending not to hear.
“He watched, she panicked, they all held their breath—what POV?”
3rd person omniscient
How does witnessing or imagining another perspective (besides Fatima’s) affect our understanding of her experience?
It deepens empathy, shows external pressures, shows how others see her fear
Use one example from Chapter 6 to show how omniscient narration reveals something unexpected.
(e.g.) The narrator might show a bystander’s worry or someone’s internal reaction that Fatima couldn’t see
Rewrite the scene where Fatima walks home after standing up for herself in third-person omniscient — but show what each character is feeling through their actions and body language instead of telling the reader directly.
“Fatima’s steps slowed as the boys’ laughter thinned behind her. One of them kicked a pebble instead of meeting his friend’s eyes.”
Rewrite in 3rd limited
Fatima walked quickly, trying to ignore the snickers behind her. The boys behind her thought it was just a joke, harmless teasing. But to Fatima, each laugh felt heavy, pressing on her chest.
Fatima walked quickly, trying to ignore the snickers behind her. But to Fatima, each laugh felt heavy, pressing on her chest.