The Rag and Bone Shop
Author: Robert Cormier
Page Length: 154
Reading Level: 7
Genre: Fiction
PLOT SUMMARY: In Part 1, Detective Trent of Vermont, has just been successful in obtaining two confessions for two separate murder cases. However, he has lost his wife in a fatal car accident and must return home alone. Since his wife died, he has experienced bouts of loneliness and depression.
As Part 2 begins, Jason Dorrant is enjoying the luxury of sleeping late on the first day of summer. He decides to go over to Brad’s house for a swim or maybe just to help Brad’s younger sister, Alicia put a jigsaw puzzle together. He actually likes Alicia better than Brad and has helped her with puzzles before, although she is the master at assembling the puzzles.
Tragedy hits as Jason learns the following day that Alicia was found not only dead, but murdered and left in the woods. Jason is believed to be the last one to see Alicia alive and is questioned by the police about what he remembers. Under pressure from a U. S. senator, whose granddaughter knew Alicia, Lieutenant Braxton seeks the services of Trent from Vermont to help solve the case. With no substantial evidence, Jason appears to be the prime suspect.
As Trent sets up his interrogation, he reviews the scenario and deposition Jason has already submitted. It doesn’t seem likely that Jason is the killer, but Trent is a specialist at getting confessions and he feels confident as he enters the small room which has been set up to make Jason feel intimidated by his size, position and voice. Jason believes he is being interviewed only for additional help to the police’s investigation. As the interrogation proceeds, Jason begins to feel inadequate in his answers, then threatened by Trent’s questions. Both Trent and Jason believe they know the truth, but as both feel pressure, neither seems to know what the real truth is.
REVIEW: This is a fast-paced suspenseful book which creates tension within the reader from the first pages of the book. As the plot develops, the reader will try to determine the outcome. The characters of both Jason and Trent are well-developed and the chemistry and tension between them in their interview is realistic.
At the end of the book, a reader’s guide is included as well as an interview with the author.
AREAS FOR TEACHING: Characters, Conflict, Theme, Conclusions, Predictions and Outcomes, Voice, Mood, Tone
RELATED BOOKS: Frenchtown Summer, Heroes
RELATED WEBSITES:
www.litplans.com/authors/Robert_Cormier.htm
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Rag-and-Bone–Shop-by-Robert-Cormier-2-week-unit-plan
REVIEWED BY: Shirley Wagner