Okay For Now

For what reason does Principal Peattie call Doug to his office? What will Doug's punishment be?

Gym Teacher says Doug cut his class by running instead of participating in wrestling. His punishment is taking Coach Reed's wrestling unit during lunch and taking his original PE class.

How does Doug's demeanor change at school in the month of November? How does this affect his relationships with his teachers and classmates?

He began participated again in class and completing his homework; the teachers care and encourage him.

What surprises Doug about Mr. Russell?

He is huge but he plays the flute for the NYC Philharmonic.

In what way is Doug responsible for the Yellow Shank being returned to the book?

Mr. Ballard put the plate up in his office; Doug told him that it looked better in the book it can from. Mr. Ballard agreed.

Which of Doug's teachers figures out that Doug cannot read, something that "no teacher had figured out before"?

Mr. Ferris, the science teacher

Who is Mrs. Merriam? Who is Mr. Powell?

Mrs. Merriam: Librarian on the first floor at the public library. She doesn't like Doug, at first, but begins to see him as a good guy. Mr. Powell: Librarian on the second floor that teaches Doug how to draw the Audobon birds.

In what class is Doug put in a group for students who have shown "excellence and promise"?

Mrs. Verne, Advanced Algebra

What is the protagonist's favorite baseball team and player?

New York Yankees; Joe Pepitone

Of what crime is the jerk brother suspected?

Of breaking into Spicer's Deli

How does this situation with the jerk brother affect Doug's relationships with adults in town?

People looked at him differently, like he was the one that had broken into Spicer's Deli.

What memory keeps Doug from feeling fully engaged in his life? What information is the reader initially missing about this memory?

Principal Peattie says something mean to Doug that Doug does not want the reader to know because it gets him closer to the "dark woods"

Under what pretence does Mrs. Cowper begin working with Doug after school, teaching him how to read?

She needs a student to practice with for a County Literacy Unit she is developing.

What do you think will happen to Lil?

She will get better; Doug will be there to support her.

Of what second crime is the jerk brother suspected?

Someone broke into the Tools 'n' Hardware Store.

Chapter 1 - The Arctic Tern

Swiftly falling bird, heading to the water, about to crash; terrified eye; Doug relates to the Arctic Tern's terrified eye since he moved to a new city and is dealing with a father and brother that don't treat him well.

For what are the "dark woods" a metaphor?

The "dark woods" represent a moment where Doug confronts and faces his drunk, abusive father. No one else in his family will do it; Doug feels proud to have confronted his father.

In what ways have our laws developed to help Americans with disabilities? How would Lucas' story have been different had he lived in an America with our current laws? Would this have changed Doug's story, too?

The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. Yes, Lucas would probably be able to get a job a whole lot easier. It would make Doug's story different.

What happens to Lucas on the way from the bus stop to back to the car?

The Stop the War Protest was marching toward them and they chanted they were glad Lucas was missing both his eyes and arms, and its what he had deserved. One protester spit at him.

Chapter 4 - Black-backed Gull

The bird is dying and there is thick red blood all over its feathers. Represents Christopher who is accused of breaking into the hardware store. Christopher cries and he seems to be "plunging downward into ruin."

Chapter 3 - Large-Billed Puffins

The birds symbolize Doug and Lil's growing relationship and how they might become more than just friends, especially after Doug changes the picture so that the Puffin's eyes are looking at each other. Originally, Doug believes the Puffins are chumps and stupid.

Chapter 8 - Brown Pelican

The brown pelican is stable despite being on a partially rotted branch. This represents Christopher's transformation to be stable as it demonstrated when he babysits the Daugherty kids and the kids fall asleep on him.

What happens when Doug's shirt gets ripped off in gym class? How does this explain Doug's constant refusal to stay on his assigned team, the "skins"?

The class sees that he has a tattoo; this is why he doesn't want to be on the skins team

Chapter 6 - Snowy Heron

The snowy heron is proud and beautiful. He's facing the world and is "okay for now" just like Doug. The snowy heron doesn't see the hunter approaching; he sees possibilities.

Chapter 7 - Forked-Tailed Petrels

The winds were pushing the 2 birds in different directions, but they were meeting in the center. Represents Doug and his brother Lucas coming together for a second chance.

Chapter 5 - Yellow Shank

The yellow shank is walking towards the dark forest. This represents Doug standing up to his father because he has taken his signed baseball and $100 prize. Doug crossing int the "dark forest" is for the best in the future.

What do the boys in Doug's wrestling class do to show solidarity with him?

They circle around the ring for a certain amount of time before taking Doug out, so it looks like he is actually trying.

What happened to the plates of the Arctic Term, the Large-Billed Puffins, the Red-Throated Diver, and the Brown Pelican? Why?

They were sold because the town needs money.

Where does Doug take Lil, and why? What happens that Doug considers to be "even better" than making a perfect ringer shot?

To Ballard Paper Mill to show her how to throw horseshoes. He kissed her.

Why is Christopher again questioned by the police?

Tools 'n' More Hardware Store was robbed again

What major war is taking place at the time of the novel?

Vietnam War

Explain the context of this quote: "We were both chumps. But you know what? It's not so bad when you are chumps together."

When Doug came back from his Saturday morning deliveries Mr. Spicer was crying behind the register, and so was Doug.

What bargain does Doug make with Principal Peattie?

When the police figure out who the thief really is (basically Doug is saying once Christopher is not proven guilty), he has the give back the plate of the bird back to the library.

How does Doug act heroically while babysitting for the Daughertys?

While Doug was babysitting, Joel starts wheezing. So Doug calls Christopher to watch the rest of the children while Doug runs to Dr. Bottom's house in the middle of the night. Doug saves Joels life.

The idea that "things belong in the class to which they have been assigned" is repeated several times throughout the novel. In what contexts do you think that this is true? In what contexts is this untrue? How does Doug's journey either prove or disprove this idea?

Yes, I do believe that this is right for some things, but this does not apply to everything. True related to books, supplies. Doug strongly believes that the Audubon book belongs whole. Untrue related to ideas and people.

Describe Mrs. Windermere's property.

a huge brick house with pillars; gardens on both sides; more windows than Camillo Junior High; large round window over the doorway

What does Mrs. Windermere do for a living? How does Mrs. Windermere personify Creativity?

a playwright; creativity is a god that comes only when he pleases

Who is Mrs. Windermere? What question does Lil keep asking her dad about Mrs. Windermere on the Saturday of Doug's first delivery day?

an old lady with white hair worn in a bun; a playwright that lives in a big house; one of Doug's delivery customers; "Are you going to warn him about Mrs. Windermere"?

According to Mr. Ferris, what is "the basic principle of physical science," and how does it apply to Doug's situation?

two bodies cannot occupy the same space at the same time; Doug is not his brother.

Chapter 9 - Great Esquimaux Curlew

"An actor if there ever was one." Represents Doug acting on Broadway and his coming of age.

In what year does this novel take place?

1968

What does Mr. Powell leave for Doug on top of the case in the library?

3 large blank sheets of paper, 5 sharp colored pencils, an eraser.

What does Doug see in the library that captures his interest and imagination?

A huge book and on one whole page was a picture of a bird. The book was open to the Arctic Tern drawing.

What are some examples of the narrator forcing the reader to make assumptions, rather than presenting straight-forward plot points? Why might the author have made this choice?

An example of the narrator forcing the reader to make assumptions is when Lucas's friend in the war kept on saying to "keep in mind that he'll look different," instead of telling what happened to Lucas. To keep the reader, reading so they can find out what happened. Creates tension.

How does Doug's brother demonstrate his admiration for the fact that Doug "still got guts"?

By giving Doug the signed baseball

What is the "school theme for the year" for Washington Irving Junior High School?

Catch the Spirit!

How does Coach Reed help Lucas?

Coach Reed gave Lucas a job as the Assistant Junior High School Gym Coach

What gift from her mother does Lil deliver to The Dump? What does Doug's jerk brother do to the gift?

Daises; he spits on each flower.

Chapter 2 - Red-Throated Divers

Doug initially believes the mama bird isn't noticed by her little ones. However, Mrs. Windemere corrects Doug and says that the mama bird is looking for the next spectacular thing coming their way.

Why does the Swieteck family have to move to Marysville, New York?

Doug's dad got fired, and Ernie Eco says Ballard Paper Mill in Marysville has a job open.

How does the reality of the picnic differ from Doug's father's predictions?

Doug's father said the picnic would be terrible, and little food; it was awesome

What do the names of the chapters represent? In what way does this mirror the content of each chapter?

Each chapter was named after a bird in the Audubon book. Each bird portrays the type of emotion that shadows the chapter. And also the bird that Doug draws.

What happened to Doug's Yankee jacket?

Ernie Eco was caught red-handed wearing it by Doug. In other words he stole it from him.

What does the reader eventually learn that Principal Peattie said to Doug at the end of their meeting in his office? To what does Doug compare the feeling of having been told this?

He said that not a single teacher cares about him at all, not a single one. And that they all gave up on him like they did from the start. Doug said he felt the same way as when Lucas was assulted by the anti-war protestors.

What does Doug offer to do for Coach Reed? What does Coach Reed's acceptance of this offer indicate about the changed dynamic between the two?

He says he could take care of the fitness charts. There is sympathy between the two because of their experiences with Vietnam.

What is strange about Principal Peattie's speech patterns?

He talks in third person.

What is the one reason that Doug's father chooses to go to the Annual Ballard Paper Mill Harvest-Time Employee Picnic?

He thought he could win the trivia contest that he thought was about Babe Ruth.

What truth about Doug's father is revealed?

He turned in his "friend," Ernie Eco. He had been behind all of the robberies.

What does Mrs. Merriam have in common with the Swieteck family?

Her son, Lieutenant Leonard Merriam served alongside with Lucas. (but he is MIA now, although Lucas does not tell her)

When the protagonist's father's "hands flash out," what is really happening?

His father is beating him.

Who is Christopher? Why does the reader only learn this information now? (Think about what may have changed in the way that Doug views this character.)

Its Doug's jerk brother, except Doug does not view him as a jerk anymore. So he feels the right to call by his real name, Christopher.

What classic novel is the basis for Mrs. Windermere's new stage play?

Jane Eyre

What does Doug carry with him when he delivers groceries this weekend? In what way does this item influence his interactions with the adults he encounters?

Jane Eyre. It sparks a lot of conversations between Doug and the adults.

What book is Doug's English class reading? Of whom does the protagonist of the book remind Doug?

Jane Eyre; reminds Doug of Lil.

Several characters are never given names, or their names are withheld for a large majority of the novel. Why do you think that these particular people are not named?

Jerk Brother and So-Called Gym Teacher. Not naming the characters, in the beginning, shows the transformation of the characters from a bad guy to a good guy.

Who is in the audience on opening night?

Joe Pepitone

What piece of baseball memorabilia does Doug's brother take from him and trade for a pack of cigarettes?

Joe Pepitone's cap

What piece of baseball memorabilia does Holling give to Doug before moves to Marysville?

Joe Pepitone's jacket with his signature on the collar.

What artist is responsible for the drawings in the large book of birds?

John James Audubon

What happens on the opening night of the play?

Lil gets sick and goes to the hospital, so Doug has to play both parts.

Who is Lil? What does her father do for a living?

Lil, short for Lily, short for Lilian. She is a girl that rides around on her bike and is at the library often. Her father owns Spicer's Deli.

What does the reader suspect about Lucas from comments that the jerk brother and Doug's mother make in this chapter (and from references to "sounding like Lucas" that Doug makes earlier in the novel)?

Lucas does not have a good past and probably acts the same way as Doug's jerk brother.

What are "the most important parts" of the letter from Vietnam that Lucas had a friend write for him?

Lucas had been wounded badly; he would be home soon; he missed them and love them

What does Lucas keep bringing up that eventually causes Doug to tell him to "shut up" and accuse him of "not even trying"?

Lucas says sarcastic, smart comments about not having legs.

What prizes are being offered to the winners of the Trivia contest? Who wins the contest, and how are the prizes distributed? Do either of the winners get any of the prizes?

baseball signed by Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, and Joe Pepitone; $50 for each partner; parking spots right by the mill for one year. Doug was suppose to get $100 and the baseball; but his father took the prizes and the parking spots

What does Doug discover on the So-Called Gym Teacher's clipboard? What does this discovery reveal about the man's experience in Vietnam?

drawings of PE students and bad scenes from his time in Vietnam; he keeps having nighmares of his time in Vietnam.

What kind of trouble does Doug get into in the last two weeks of October? What is his punishment? How has Doug's demeanor changed in his classes? How do his teachers react?

many fights; punishment was five days of after school detention and two threats of school suspension; didn't do classwork; he stopped caring; his teachers don't seem to care

What is a "ditto"?

old style copy with purple ink

What vision does Doug imagine that he describes as "almost like seeing a ghost?"

playing catch with his brother, Lucas, who is in Vietnam