A Life-Changing Note

Just when you think you know what will happen, the world turns upside down.  In two of O. Henry’s most famous short stories, a rascally boy terrorizes his kidnappers, and a friendly reunion has a shocking result.  These retellings of The Ransom of Red Chief and After Twenty Years are unforgettable examples of irony and role reversal.  Use the discussion, vocabulary, and writing prompts to work on 8^th Grade Common Core State Standards.