SH

You Betray Must I: Vocabulary Flashcards from the Shadowing Activities (Carnegie/Yoto)

Shadowing/Yoto notes (concise, exam-ready):

  • Purpose of Shadowing (Carnegie/Yoto): engage with shortlisted books, develop discussion, and practice critical reading with guidance from adults (parent/teacher/librarian/leader).
  • Age guidance and safety: intended for 13+; be aware content warnings and ensure suitability for group; discuss parental/guardian guidance if needed.
  • Content warning for this title (You Betray Must I by Ruta Sepetys): contains violence, coercive control, abuse, sexual content, torture; discuss boundaries and support when reading.
  • Context and setting: historical fiction set in Romania under Ceaușescu in the late 1980s; revolutions culminated in 1989; life under a totalitarian regime with Securitate surveillance; focus on ordinary youths living through oppression and upheaval.
  • Narrative structure: dual first-person perspectives (two voices) with diary-like passages; epilogue and extras provide closure and historical context.
  • Main characters (essential for quick recall):
    • Cristian: one of the narrators; experiences under the regime; personal and political tensions.
    • Liliana: the other narrator; intertwined experiences with Cristian; family and loyalty themes.
    • Supporting figures: Dan, Luca Dorn, Bunu (grandfather), Cici, Hands Paddle Agent (state operative), Timisoara-related events; the regime’s reach affects every relationship.
  • Core themes (high-level):
    • Betrayal, trust, and loyalty under surveillance
    • Oppression, resistance, and the cost of speaking out
    • Family, memory, and the impact of history on youth
    • Freedom vs. control in a communist society
  • Narrative aims and techniques: two voices offer contrasting perspectives; diary-like entries give intimate insight into fears, hopes, and moral choices; historical context shown through personal experience rather than textbook detail.
  • Key concepts to know for quick recall:
    • Totalitarian regime and the Securitate
    • 1989 Romanian Revolution and Ceaușescu’s fall
    • How ordinary youths navigate fear, censorship, and moral decision-making
  • Reading plan and structure (brief):
    • Before reading: establish safety, discuss expectations, and skim themes.
    • During reading: engage with guided questions, track character perspectives, note how historical context shapes choices.
    • After reading: reflective writing, group discussion, and tying personal responses to larger themes.
  • Pre-reading and during-reading activities (essentials): 11 varied tasks to deepen understanding, including:
    • Imagining opening lines for shortlisted books; developing lines that hint at tone
    • Analyzing subplots and character motivations
    • Role-play or bench-spot exercises to explore character dynamics
    • Creating a playlist or soundtrack that mirrors the book’s mood
    • Designing a redesigned book cover and discussing how it communicates theme
    • Crafting a trailer or cast list to visualize adaptation potential
    • Producing a TikTok-style summary or a short video in the book’s voice
    • Exploring theme shapes (color, form) to reflect motifs
    • Writing a trailer narrative or a diary entry from a character’s perspective
    • Using quotes to generate a paragraph of “taglines” or mantras
    • Generating a social-media-style review or reflection with a hashtag (e.g., #YotoShadow)
  • Mindfulness and wellbeing task (in-page activity): incorporate reflective diary writing about joys, fears, and thoughts to support wellbeing while engaging with heavy themes.
  • Reading and discussion format: guided questions (5-10 minutes per section) followed by short written responses; group discussions to compare interpretations; use of evidence from the text.
  • Final assessment approach: students submit book reviews on the Carnegie shadowing platform; discuss verisimilitude, historical accuracy, and emotional impact; reflect on author’s purpose and the portrayal of youth under oppression.
  • Historical-literary links to know: Ceaușescu regime characteristics, Securitate surveillance, Timisoara demonstrations, and the 1989 Romanian Revolution; understand how historical context shapes characters’ choices and plot tension.
  • Quick reference terms:
    • Oppression, regime, Securitate, revolution, exile, loyalty, betrayal, memory, resistance.
  • Exam-ready takeaways: dual-narrator structure; personal perspective on historical events; the ethical complexities of survival under totalitarianism; how literature can illuminate youth experiences during political upheaval.