With a curious protagonist living in the depths of Asheville’s Biltmore Estate in 1899, “Serafina and the Black Cloak” sparked the interest of many Flat Rock Middle 6th grade teachers, who in turn suggested the book to Media Specialist Natalie Ezell.
Ezell agreed – the young adult mystery about a strange girl hidden from society would be the perfect novel for the 6th graders’ cross-curriculum mystery unit.
But at $10 per book, the New York Times Bestseller was going to be expensive to put in the hands of every student.
“And that’s when I started exploring,” Ezell said.
She found the Serafina School Fund on Beatty’s website, which offers to pay the cost of books in approved classrooms. Ezell applied for the program, and Beatty generously contributed.
“He sent us enough funds to purchase books for all three language arts classes,” which include about 80 students, Ezell said.
On his site Beatty explains, “Some teachers are using Serafina in Language Arts or Social Studies, in sections on the Gilded Age or regional history. Others use it to build vocabulary or work on writing projects. Some teachers are combining it with field trips to Biltmore Estate or one of the National Forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Ezell said in years past, Flat Rock Middle’s 6th-graders would visit the Biltmore Estate but the field trip hasn’t continued in recent years.
“We would like to revamp it,” she said. “And tie it into local history (and our) local author.”
Not only would Ezell like her students to compare the book to the actual Biltmore Estate and discuss the differences between history and historical fiction, she thinks Beatty’s local connection is valuable.
“He’s a local author,” Ezell said. “And I like having students know, ‘Each one of you has that potential.’”
(Article written by Molly McGowan Gorsuch, HCPS Public Information Officer.)