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CAPTAIN NOBODY

Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford is the novel taught in form five. This is the first year I
teach the novel. On the cover, there was a cartoon character of the main character, Captain
Nobody. He is wearing a baggy purple T-shirt with red track bottom. He is also wearing a blue
mantel behind his back (like a Superman) and covers his eyed with a red mask (like Mr
Incredible). His hands are on his hips. Standing straight, confidently. My first impression when I
saw the cover of the book was, that book was meant for children of lower forms . The story is
about a superhero, sort of fantasy story. Well, don‟t judge a book by its cover.
I study the novel as I teach my students because we just received the book early this year.
It was quite a challenge because as I was teaching the students about the plot, the characters, the
setting, the moral values, I sometimes made mistakes. I always said Newt Newman as Newt
Newton. Hmmm...it is not a good practice. I hope in the future when there are new materials for
the students , we, the teachers will get the materials much earlier than the students....
Well, what I can say about the novel is there are pros and cons. This story teaches the
teenagers who always feel small and not confident about themselves, whether it is due to their
physical appearance or other factors, to find their inner strength. All of us are special creatures
and each of us has something extra that other people do not possess it. We ourselves have to look
for it.
The novel also teaches us to be supportive of our family. Teenagers out there, don‟t ask
our parents what they can give to us, instead we should ask ourselves how can we contribute to
our families. In the story, even though Newt was sometimes unnoticed by his parents as they
were very busy, he put his effort to prepare breakfast for them. Every morning, he prepared
simple breakfast of sausage and eggs for them. The thought is count, not the food. He prepared it
out of love.
However, the cons are, before teaching the novel, the teachers have to brief the students
on the culture of American school. Being a footballer is something that the students will go for
because it comes with popularity etc etc. etc. “Football” in the USA is not the same as „football”
in Malaysia. I bet some students may be confused why Chris was in a state of coma after playing
“football”.. In Malaysia we never heard of that kind of case.
Apart from that, teachers have to explain what is Halloween to American . Again, it is
not in our culture. What is the story behind Halloween, so on so forth.
Anyway, this is my humble opinion and being a teacher in SMK Gemereh which is
categorised as rural school, I have to plan my lesson plan well. However, I am more confidently
to teach this novel next year as I am more prepared. How about other teachers out there ?...
Happy teaching....

By : Teacher Zazilah