My Name is Joad

My Name Is Joad is a contemporary story for mature readers told in the first person.  Joad wants more than anything to be accepted into the Kingz gang, and finally, the leader gives him an initiation task.  He carries out the crime, but when Joad’s mother reveals why his gang member father left when Joad was just a baby, the stories cross and Joad rethinks who he is and wants to be.  The book concludes with a feature on planning and writing a contemporary story.

The text is composed of dialogue and a variety of sentence types.  Hyper-realistic illustrations provide a context and create mood.  Inset boxes encourage readers to notice visual features and aspects of plot, character, and setting, to activate reading strategies, and to clarify vocabulary.  Boxes also highlight issues and prompt personal response.

The narrative is rich in descriptive and figurative language.

This title is from the Sails Literacy series. Hook readers and ignite their curiosity - over 700 levelled texts with bright, colourful, sophisticated designs.