Two halves. Two different perspectives. Two different responses... It's a tense time for all. Pressure is building. Blame comes from all directions. This is the story of two lives and their very different backgrounds. The book is split into two halves: the story of the 'Miner' and the response of the 'Mine Owner.' It's amazing how looking at two sides of the same argument can change your stance... Aimed at higher achieving pupils around 10 to 12 years old, 'Changes in Words: The Closing of the Mines, 1860-1870' is part of a powerful, yet unusual, series of children's picture books. The stark black pages with sparse white writing are interspersed with occasional poignant photographic images. Each story in the 'In Words' series comes with a list of possible tasks in order to increase children's engagement with literature and help to develop inference, analytical skills, evaluative processes and the ability to critically compare. Use this text to teach about repetition as a literary device, considering a situation from different standpoints and showing the passage of time in prose.