Reading Quiz

What grade is Kenny in?

4th grade

What is "The Brown Bomber"?

A 1948 dull brown car that they named

Who does Kenny first see in the water with him?

A bunch of Alabama fish.

What kind of relationship does Kenny have with his brother, Byron?

A mocking relationship

What is an ultra-glide?

A record player that the Watson have in their Brown Bomber.

What was the noise that Kenny and the neighborhood heard?

A thunder

What did Kenny expect Grandma Sands to look like?

A troll and at the mouth like she had rabies.

What is a Wool Pooh?

A whirlpool

What interesting language does the author use to describe how cold it is in Flint?

An igloo, a million degrees below zero, and a huge icebox

Where is Rufus from?

Arkansas

Why do you think Kenny is so eager to have a real mustache like his dad's?

Because he wants to be a man like his Dad.

Why does Byron think that the family is on welfare?

Because his Mom tells him to sign for he food at Mitchell's.

Why does Byron have to sleep in his parent's room on his last night in Flint?

Because it was gonna be a while, until he would become mature.

How come Byron and Kenny both don't enjoy the task of having Joetta's head in their laps as she sleeps?

Because she always drooled a lot.

How come the Watsons can't just drive until they are tired and find a place to sleep wherever they are?

Because they were in the deep south, they can't just be expecting a room to sleep in.

How is Birmingham like Flint? How is it different?

Birmingham is like Flint, because they have those wooden cabins and wooden houses. It's different because Birmingham is where it's hot and in Flint, it's cold.

Why didn't Byron run away when Kenny told him to?

Bryon just let the punishment happen to him, since he made a dangerous mistake.

How did Dad make the family go to sleep?

By playing the Ultra-Glide that said "and don't forget who's tak."

Generally, who prevents people from teasing Kenny in school?

Byron

Who saves Kenny from the Wool Pooh?

Byron

How does Byron feel after he saves Kenny? How does he act?

Byron feels worried about saving Kenny. He puts his arms around Kenny's neck.

How has Byron changed since he left Flint? Does he seem to think about the decisions he makes? Why do you think he has changed so suddenly?

Byron has acted more mature since the last time he has left Flint. He thinks really hard about the decisions he makes. I think he has changed so suddenly, because it might the heat, or maybe it's just like the heat had sucked all the meanness and fun out of Byron.

What does Byron have to be ready for?

Byron has to get ready to grow up and be mature.

According to Dad, why does Byron have to go to Alabama?

Byron is getting old enough to have to understand that his time for playing is running out fast, he needs to learn that there aren't jokes waiting for him ahead.

What is Byron's reaction to the bird he killed? How does the author show that Byron is not as tough as he pretends to be?

Byron was sad and throws up. It shows that he is sensitive to death.

What does Dad claim being a grown up is like?

Dad claims that being a grown up is being serious with everything that you do everyday and not do anything silly or funny.

What is the consequence to Byron's decision? Do you think it was fair?

Dad cut all of Byron's hair and sang "Straighten Up and Fly Right", a song Byron didn't like. I think it was fair because if Byron wanted to do something without his parents permission and it wasn't physical abuse, then it was a good punishment.

How does Dad react to Byron being stuck? What does this reveal about his character?

Dad was just laughing, because he thought it was funny that he was so attracted to himself that he kissed his own reflection. This revealed that Dad has great supervision.

How did Mr. Robert save his dog's life?

Dragged him back to the short and turnt him upside down to let the water out.

What was Joetta wearing when she left?

Fluffy white skirt, a regular blouse and little white gloves.

Why do you think Kenny is afraid when he realizes that the reading he has been chosen to do will be for Byron's class? What happens after the reading that surprises Kenny?

He doesn't want to get teased, if he messes up. He was surprised that everyone was applauding for Kenny.

How does Kenny feel about what he did to Rufus?

He feels bad and sad for what he did to Rufus.

Why do you think Byron was in such a good mood on the walk homie from the store?

He found free food in the trees. It was Swedish Cremes and it was apples.

Why does Kenny believe that the new kid is his "personal saver"?

He gets picked on instead of Kenny.

When Kenny leaves the church, where does he go?

He goes back home in Alabama.

What is special about Kenny gloves?

He got to wear real leather gloves, most of the people at his school would have to wear cheap plastic mittens that would start to crack up after two or three snowball fights, or a cold day.

What do we learn about Kenny's physical appearance?

He has a lazy eye, it means that his eye doesn't focus automatically.

What is Kenny referring to when he sees "the scariest things" he's ever seen? Describe them.

He is referring to the stars in the sky and that there were more than usual. He describes it as if it looks like a deformed, evil, one-armed space robot.

How does Byron act when he meets Grandma Sands? What reason does Byron give for the way he acts?

He just acts normal when he meets Grandma Sands. He reacts this way, because he's gonna stay with Grandma Sands for a while and he wants to be on his best behavior.

How does Byron get himself stuck to the car mirror? How do they separate Byron from the mirror?

He kissed his own reflection of the mirror. Wilona gave Byron a hard snatch to separate Byron from the mirror.

Why doesn't Kenny want Rufus to sit next to him in school?

He knew that if you had two people who were going to get teased a lot and they were close together, they were gonna pick on both of them.

How does Byron help Kenny to feel better at the end of the book?

He lets Kenny cry on his lap.

Even though he feels bad for Byron, Kenny thinks he deserves to be punished. Why?

He made a dangerous mistake of possibly burning the whole house down.

Why does Kenny ask for a second serving of Kool-Aid, even though it tastes bad to him?

He needed something to wash down the peanut butter, because it was day one and it was his turn to have PBJ and Mom would usually put too much peanut butter in the sandwiches.

What does Byron remind Kenny of when he complains about having to take care of Joetta?

He reminds Kenny that he once was a crying little clown before, so he said to Kenny what goes around goes around.

What do we learn about Kenny's physical appearance?

He said that they would put the dinosaurs in the graveyard, but when Kenny had to go somewhere else, he digged the graveyard and stole his dinosaurs.

What does Kenny think Birmingham looks like?

He thinks that Birmingham will look the same like Ohio.

What does Byron tell Joetta in order to make her stop whining about the amount of clothes

He told her that Mom made us wear extra clothes, because they have short blood vessels, since they were originally from Birmingham, Alabama.

How did Byron ruin the perfect day?

He was being mean to Kenny by saying to be quiet and just enjoy the cookies already in a mean way.

What does huis reaction reveal about his character?

He was being real careful with the dead bird.

How come Byron never gets burned?

He was sobering a lot, so the matches didn't burn him.

What does Kenny think is happening when shows up at his room?

He was thinking that the Wool Pooh was taking Joey for her last visits.

What is the only thing Kenny can think about after Byron tells him the news on page 183?

He was worried about Byron getting in trouble, when they heard how loud he'd slammed the screen door.

What does Byron claim the Wool Pooh does?

Hide underwater and snatch kids down with him.

What is Byron's plan for payback during the car ride? Does he stick to his plan?

His plan was to give him Kenny the dirty fingers. He does not stick with the plan.

Who do you think Mr. Robert is?

I think Mr. Robert is someone that used to be a teacher at a different school.

Why do you think Mrs. Watson speaks "Southern-style" when she gets angry?

I think it's because whenever she feels happy or normal, she speaks regularly, but whenever she speaks her "Southern- style", I think she gets serious, since she speaks like friendly usually.

What does Kenny see pulling the other end of the shoe that he reaches for? Why do you think that is?

I think that is because he had big square shoulders and his face should have been where it was.

Why do the Watsons think sending Byron to Alabama will help him to behave better? Do you think it will work?

I think the Watsons are sending Byron to Alabama, because he has been in trouble many times. I think it will work, because he might find new people to help him learn his mistakes, or he will learn his lessons on his own, if he stays there for a long time.

Why do you think Momma and Dad call Grandma Sands at the end of the chapter?

I think they called Grandma Sands, because Byron dyed his hair Mexican styled and they wanted to tell Grandma Sands that Dad cut all his hair off.

What does Byron believe "the rednecks" could do to them?

If they caught you, they would hang you, then eat you.

What is different about the sky in Tennessee as compared to Michigan?

In Tennessee, the air in the sky was clean and has more stars, in Michigan, there are less stars and it's less clean.

Why is Kenny afraid that the family is on welfare? How does he say it would affect him?

It would affect Kenny, it would be embarrassing for Kenny to sign a welfare list for groceries, like a blanked peon.

Why did Joetta leave the church? Who saved her?

Joetta left the Church, because she got scared. Kenny saved Joetta.

How do you think Joetta and Kenny feel when Momma tells them to get matches so that she can burn Byron? Why?

Joey started crying whenever Momma told her to get matches to burn Byron, because to her, Byron was her role model (big brother) and she didn't want him to get hurt. Meanwhile, Kenny feels bad, but feels like Byron should've deserved it, because of playing with matches.

Why does Rufus stop hanging out with Kenny?

Kenny crackled up for some reason, whenever Cody and Rufus was made fun of, since Larry knew that at Friday, they switched pants.

Why does Kenny think it is okay to swim at Collier's Landing?

Kenny thinks it's okay to swim at Collier's Landing, because he didn't believe that the Wool Pooh was real since he thought that Byron made it up.

Does Kenny think Momma and Dad are good parents for sending Byron to Alabama? Why does he think so?

Kenny thinks that his parents are making the right decision to send Byron to Alabama. He thinks so, because there are too many temptations in Flint, so hopefully the slower pace in Alabama will help him remove some of those temptations and let all his silliness go.

What trick does Kenny pull on Momma in order to help Rufus? How does his plan backfire?

Kenny tricks Momma, by saying that he lost a pair of leather gloves, but realty he gave it to Rufus. This backfired, by losing the second pair of gloves, since someone stole them.

How does Kenny react to the situation? How does this differ from Joetta's reaction?

Kenny was cracking up and he asked why Byron died his hair. This differs from Joetta's reaction, because she took it way more seriously and thought about what Daddy was going to do to Byron.

Why does Byron spend so much time with Kenny when they come back to Flint?

Kenny went to Byron's World- Famous Watson Pet Hospital so that if they're dog got injured or threw up or something, they snuck in to feel better.

Why does Kenny claim he can't tell on Byron for signing for the cookies?

Kenny would be in just as much trouble as Byron would be in, since he ate the donuts.

Who is Larry Dunn?

King of Kindergarten to 4th grade

In what cities do the Watsons plan on stopping in order to sleep?

Knoxville and Detroit

Who is LJ Jones? Why do you think Kenny is friends with LJ, even though LJ isn't nice to him?

LJ Jones was Kenny's old friend that used to play Dinosaur War with Kenny. I think Kenny is friends with LJ, even though he isn't nice to him, because I think that playing dinosaurs alone for Kenny would be boring, considering there are two sides, the Nazi and the Americans, since he would have no one to play with.

Who does Kenny believe stole his pair of gloves?

Larry Dunn

What happened a couple years ago at Collier's Landing?

Miss Thomas's little boy Jimmy got caught up in some kinda whirlpool there and they didn't find the poor soul's body for three days.

Kenny realizes that Momma is angry when he says "Uh-oh." How does he know Momma is not happy?

Momma didn't sound very happy when she told Byron take off his boat and get over to her.

What gift does Mrs. Davidson give to Joetta? How come Joetta doesn't like the gift?

Mrs. Davidson gives Joetta a little angel, made of white clay unpainted, except for the cheeks and eyes. Joetta does not like the gift, because the angel was named Joetta, and it was white.

Describe Rufus Fry

New student, made fun of a lot, and he had ragged clothes.

Do you think Momma's punishment would have been a fair consequence for Byron's actions? Why or why not?

No, because she's doing something to her son that is physical and it would hurt him.

Does Byron think about what might happen to him before he makes a decision?

No, because they can't do anything to get rid of his dyed blue hair for a pretty long time.

Does Kenny think he understands Byron by the end of the chapter?

Not exactly, but he compared like wishing all three wishes to a genie and having all bad wishes on Byron.

Does Byron seem to like Birmingham?

Not really, because of how hot it is there.

What makes Rufus decide to hang out with Kenny again? Why does Kenny end up thinking that Rufus is a better friend than LJ?

Rufus decides that he wanted to continue playing Dinosaur War with Kenny again, since he hasn't been on the American side yet. Kenny at the end thinks that Rufus is a better friend than LJ, because he was nice, forgiving, and actually liked Kenny, not like LJ that wanted to steal anything.

Kenny says that people stop teasing him and begin to target Rufus because there are two things wrong with him. What are these two things?

Rufus was speaking in a Southern accent and he only had two raggedy shirts and two pairs of pants.

Where do the neighbors take Joetta on Sunday?

School

What does Momma make her children do so that they are protected from the cold?

She makes them wear a couple of T-shirts, a couple of sweaters a couple of jackets, a couple of coats, and gigantic snow pants.

How does Mrs. Watson act differently when she is with her mother in Alabama compared with how she acts at home in Flint?

She speaks more in her Southern accent than speaking in a English accent.

What does Joey do when she meets Grandma Sands?

She was blubbering and crying so much.

How does Joetta react when she sees Byron's hair and thinks about what might happen to him?

She was sad, because she knew that Byron was gonna get in trouble by Dad in some sort of way.

Why do you think Rufus and his mother, Cody, always eat Kenny's second sandwich during lunch?

Since they don't get meals at lunch or bring lunches to school.

What things does Kenny see when he arrives at the church? How does the author describe the scene at the church, after it has been bombed?

Smoke and dust flying like a tornado

According to Kenny, what is a "personal saver"?

Someone who helped you sent by God to protect you and help you out.

What does Grandma Sands really look like?

Teeny-weeny, old, woman that looked like Momma would if someone shrunk her down about five sizes and sucked all the juice out of her.

How does Hambone Henderson try to discourage Wilona from marrying Mr. Watson? What do you think Mr. Watson thinks of Hambone? How can you tell?

Telling a pack of lies. Mr. Watson makes fun of Hambone Henderson. I can tell, because he makes fun of how his head is filled with bumps and stitches.

Byron decides that Grandma Sands said that the "Wool Pooh" got Miss Thomas' son at Collier's Landing. What word did Grandma Sands really say?

That Jimmy got caught up in some kind of whirlpool.

What is Joetta told that makes her think that Momma does have to burn Byron?

That she swore to God that if Byron plays with the matches one more time, then I will burn him up. That is a promise that Momma said she wouldn't break.

What is different between Michigan toilets and Ohio toilets?

The Ohio toilet had a seat on a piece of wood with a great bag, open, black hole underneath with the sound of flies coming out of it. In the Michigan toilet, it was a white stool with a seat.

Whose shoe does Kenny think he took from the rubble?

The Wool Pooh

What does Kenny think is happening when shows up at his room?

The Wool Pooh.

What is the temperature like in Birmingham?

The temperature in Birmingham is very hot.

What has been on the news lately? What were the "Negro kids" trying to do?

There was something happening in the parts of the South. The negro kids were trying to go to school.

Describe the new kid and his little brother who both ride on Kenny's bus. What do they wear? How do they talk? What can we tell about their personalities.

They have a really strong accent, they're both new kids to the school, they wore raggedy clothes, they smile a lot, they have good manners, and they are really friendly.

According to Kenny, how are Grandma Sands and Byron alike?

They're both quiet.

Why does Mr. Alums believe it is vital for his students to be able to read well?

To be familiar and comfortable with ligature.

Why is the Watson family huddled on the couch together?

To generate a little heat

What plan of Dad's does Kenny overhear?

To stop in Cincy for a stretch and some gas.

Why does Kenny start going to the World-Famous Watson Pet Hospital so often?

To watch cats and dogs sneak in there and feel better.

Why is Momma so sensitive to the idea of Byron playing with matches?

When she was younger, he house got burned before, so she is extra cautious whenever Byron plays with matches.

Describe what the Watson family is doing when Dad says, "I think we've got our fingers in God's beard and as we drive along we're tickling him."

When they drove down th mountain, their arms were sticking out of the windows and our fingers wiggling in the breeze.