**Sixteen-year-old Marcel didn’t steal the necklace. But in 1890s Paris, orphans make easy criminals. Sentenced to Devil’s Island—the most feared prison on earth—Marcel faces a choice: rot under the merciless sun, or risk everything on an impossible escape. **
What You Get:
- Complete 2,000-word story broken into chapters with engaging headings
- 600-700 Lexile level (accessible but not babyish)
- Engaging cover art
- 4 multiple-choice comprehension questions (Quick Check)
- 2 scaffolded reflection prompts (Think About It)
- Full answer key with sample student responses
- Aligned with National Australian English Curriculum
- Zero prep required - print and go
Why This Works: Students who “don’t like reading” will finish this story. The hook is fast, the stakes are real, and the ending pays off. They’ll ask for the next one.
Perfect For:
- Reluctant or struggling readers (Years 7-9)
- Literacy intervention programs
- Casual teacher emergency lessons
- Reading for pleasure initiatives
- Students who need high-interest, age-appropriate content
No more students claiming reading isn’t for them. Don’t bore them. Give them a good story and they’ll like reading.
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£1.49