What You Pawn I Will Redeem

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity. 

ACTIVITY: “Map It Out”

Jackson’s journey to reclaim his grandmother’s regalia takes him all over Seattle. In this activity, you’ll use landmarks from the story to reconstruct Jackson’s path.

Part A: Go back through the text and note each real-world neighborhood, street, or other location. In addition, jot down when Jackson is there (referring to the timestamped section titles) as well as any money he receives or spends.

Part B: With your notes from Part A, use Google Maps or a similar application to plot Jackson’s approximate route over the course of the story. At each site, include a brief note explaining when Jackson visits and what sort of transaction occurs there.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity requires students to return to the text and focus on the details of Jackson’s journey. Visualizing the amount of traveling he does over the course of the story should help students grasp its quest-like elements; noting the money he receives and spends in each place provides an opportunity to reflect on the kind of economy the story depicts (i.e., one focused on sharing).