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1.Look at the front cover and observe it. How do you relate the title to the picture?

We talk about an ancient picture. In the picture there are two people, Megan and Huw.

Two lives, two persons, two boyfriends and a really sadness story that talks about love. They are classmates and all days, they went to the river and talked for hours.


2.Most of the story takes place in Tredonald, Wales. Find information about this coal mining village.
With the Industrial Revolution ( 17th and 18th c ) , coal mining, a tiny industry in the 15th century, became a national and international industry. Thus, the 19th century was a century of massive expansion for the coal industry in Wales. But the end of the 20th century brought almost universe closure. Find information about 1984 miners' strike

The 1984 miners ‘ strike was the major industrial action. The strike became a symbolic struggle, since the miners' union was one of the strongest in the country. The major of the habitants worked at the mine.

3.Chapter 1: Two young lives

-" Life was not easy for the Thomas family." Why ? ( 3 lines )

Life wasn’t easy for the Thomas family because Huw’s father doesn’t work. He has problems with the alcohol and he is always drunk. Huw must ask for money to other people like Megan’s father and Huw and her brother must work every day eat and to earn money.


- Richard Thomas had been killed while fighting in North Africa in 1943. Which war was it ?

I think that it was the Second World War.


- In chapter 1 we know that Megan and Huw are good friends. Describe the moment

Megan and Huw usually meet together and we know this because they explain that they sit down together at the school and after, they meet near the river. They spend a lot of time talking about their things.

Chapter 2 : The friendship continues

-In this chapter Megan and Huw take a decision about their relationship. Explain it. Why do they take it?

When Huw asked Megan if she loved him, she said yes. But Megan’s father doesn’t agree with this relationship and they decide that it will be better if Megan’s father doesn’t know about their relationship. Huw promises to Megan that in two years he will ask her father to marry Megan.

5. Chapter 3: Romance grows

-"This Saturday was going to be a night to remember." ( page 15 ) Why?

Huw and Megan went to the cinema, and they’re really in love: all the time, Huw kisses Megan and Megan kisses him. They also rode bikes and Huw gave her a present.

6. Chapter 4: Death at the mine / Leaving Tredonald

-After the first four chapters, how would you define the relationship between Huw and his brother?

Their relationship was difficult because the brothers have to work very hard, they don’t talk and Huw doesn’t talk very much about him, but he loves his brother and together they take care of their father.

7. Chapter 6: A surprise find

-Megan finds the letters Huw had sent her 50 years before, in 1946 and 1947. Imagine Meg's father was still alive and that you are Meg. What would you tell him?

I supose that it would be so hard and so sad. I would ask him for the letters. I would feel so bad. After fifty years I would like to hate him for the rest of my life. If my father took this decision for me, I think that I should not talk to him for ever in my life.

In the first letter Meg asks Huw: " Do you think he wanted me to find them when it was to late?". What do you think?

I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION

8. Chapter 7: Time to decide

-Before leaving Tredonald, Huw told Megan : "in a year ...I'll come back here and we'll get married..." ( pag.23 ); but things turned out to be completely different. Why ?

He thought that when he went to Canada, he would earn a lot of money and then, Megan’s father would accept him. But Huw didn’t return to Tredonald because he thought that Megan didn’t love him.

9. Chapter 8: Telling Beth

-Find some information about Cardiff ( 3 lines ) and post a picture

Cardiff is the capital and one of the important cities in Wales. The people worked at the mine. The ports were important in this city too.

10. Chapter 10: Writing back

-Meg is about to get married. In spite of that, she lets Huw visit her and her daughter. Why does she act that way? Do you think she does it for Beth or for herself?

I think that she wants to know about her first love. She still love him and she wants to meet with him and her daughter. She does it for herself and for Beth too.

11. Chapter 11 : A new star

-What's Meg's present job?

She makes tours in the mine.

-Why does Huw tell her " you always were a fighter, weren't you?" ? ( pag.48 )

Because Megan always fights against all the bad things and she is really strong.

-Do you think two people can still be in love after 50 years without seeing each other?

I don’t think so. I think that it’s impossible.

Yes, you can remember one person, and you can still be in love with he, but it’s so impossible that after fifty years, after other relatinoships, and after two daughters... you can still love Megan or Huw. If it is possible, it would be so hard and so amazing too.

12. Chapter 17 : Time to go

-Imagie the conversation between Paul and Megan the moment she tells him that she is still in love with Huw. Write it down

Megan: For few days, I have been trying to say one thing to you...

Paul: Oh, Megan, tell me it please, I can’t wait it anymore...

Megan: I think it a lot aobut this, and I’m sorry but... I still loving Huw.

Paul: Oh no...but Megan, I love you! You have to marry me!

Megan: Sorry Paul. I can’t. I can’t lose another chance, I love Huw and I think that it’s better for us that...

Paul: I respect your opinion, but I think that you’re wrong!

Megan: I’m sorry.

13. Did you like the book? Why ? What did you learn by reading it?

Yes, I enjoyed the book but I think that the end is so quick! I think that love histories are this, histories. I don’t care that you can still love one person after fifty years, in your life you can meet a lot of people and you can fall in love for a few times! It’s an inusual and imaginary story but it is interesting. I learn vocabulary and differents verbs that I didn’t know before. I hope that Megan and Huw stay together for a long time!