DEEP DOWN POPULAR

CONNECTION TO HATCHET

• This book is like Hatchet because both Jessie Lou and Brian
• are surviving. Jessie Lou is surviving sixth grade, while Brian is
• surviving in the wilderness. Jessie Lou has to deal with popular
• kids, and Brian has to deal with wild animals and insects. Jessie Lou
• has few friends, and Brian is alone. Brian wants to be found,...

CONNECTION TO HATCHET

• ... and Jessie Lou wants to be liked.

SETTING

• The story is set in modern times in a small town.
• It is at Cabanash County Elementary School.
• It is during the school year.
• This setting represents the time and place that popularity is important.
• Popularity effects who Conrad Parker Smith becomes friends with.

CHARACTERS

• The characters are Conrad, Quentin, Jessie Lou, Mrs. Duster,
• Jessie Lou's granddaddy, Jessie Lou's mother, and Melinda.
• The protagonist is Jessie Lou.
• The antagonist is popularity at Cabanash County Elementary School.
• The character traits are on the next page.

CHARACTER TRAITS

• Conrad, Jessie Lou's crush, is popular, handsome, and smart.
• Quentin, Jessie Lou's friend, is energetic, curious,
• and funny. He wears eyeglasses and is a show-off.
• Jessie Lou, the main character, has short hair, scrawny legs, and is a
• tomboy. She's also helpful.

CHARACTER TRAITS

• Mrs. Duster, Jessie Lou's teacher, is loud and enthusiastic.
• Jessie Lou's granddaddy is loyal, kind, and very loved by his family.
• Jessie Lou's mother is easily-annoyed and nervous.
• Melinda, Jessie Lou's big sister, is beautiful and a girly-girl.

CONFLICT

• Internal, person against self: Jessie Lou wanted Conrad's leg surgery to be
• successful, but she also didn't want him to become popular again.
• External, person against society: The external conflict is Jessie Lou, the
• tomboy, versus popularity in the school environment.

PLOT

• Exposition:
• Jessie Lou Ferguson and Conrad Parker Smith are sixth
• grade students at Cabanash County Elementary School.
• Jessie Lou really likes Conrad, but he is popular.

PLOT

• Rising action:
• Jessie Lou has to help Conrad take his bike home
• because he has a leg brace. Soon after, they start
• hanging out together. She wants Conrad to keep
• his leg brace so he won't become popular again.

PLOT

• Climax:
• The climax is that Conrad Parker Smith has an operation on his leg.
• This operation is serious because he could die.
• The success of his surgery affects his popularity greatly.

PLOT

• Falling action:
• After his leg operation, Conrad became
• instantly popular again. Everyone in
• the school liked him.

PLOT

• Resolution:
• Although Conrad had many friends after
• his operation, he still stayed friends with
• Jessie Lou. Soon after, he even invited her to
• go with him to the sixth-grade graduation dance.