Dear Diggs
     I actually read "Animal Farm" when I was in high school. At that time, I had never read anything like it. We discussed it at length, talking about what George Orwell was trying to say in this strange tale. I though then that it was about power that goes to someone's head and then corrupts them, turning the one in power to an evil dictator.
     This summer I reread it and saw something different. It seemed to be about the dangers of following someone blindly and not questioning something that you see as wrong --even deciding not to go along with what you believe is wrong. The characters can definitely be grouped into good guys and bad guys. I remember loving the horse --and still did. After reading "about" the book this summer, I learned that Orwell wrote the book as an allegory about Joseph Stalin. Stalin was a Russian dictator who most believe was responsible for more deaths of his fellow Russians than Hitler was during the Holocaust.
     Although most students read this in 7th - 12th grades and often, then again, in college, 6th grade GT students are more than ready to see beyond the simple story. "Animal Farm" will make you think, especially about leaders and followers, wherever they may be.
​     This particular book is a special edition of "Animal Farm."  The illustrations are both bizarre and humorous, but they do a good job of showing the personality of the characters. Sit back and get ready for this read --it will be unlike ANYTHING you have ever read before!

Read about how George Orwell's story was really about a Russian dictator and click to discover what an allegory is...

​"Animal Farm" was an allegory about Stalin. Watch the slideshow HERE.