Quotes
Then, as soon as we had gotten inside, she excused herself, went into the ladies’ room, and came back without her orchid. She was still smiling sweetly when she leaned down to me and whispered, “Down the toilet, you little jerk.”
Heather Hoodhood
Where does Holling take Meryl Lee for their Valentine's Day date?
BONUS: Where does he get the tickets? He barely had any money!
To see Romeo and Juliet.
Mrs. Baker must have told Mrs. Bigio about Holling's trouble, and Mrs. Bigio gave him the tickets.
What is "Khesanh" and what does it have to do with Mrs. Baker?
A place where a VERY bad battle happened in Vietnam. Mr. Baker went MIA there.
It was where Mrs.Bakers husband's helicopter was shot down. He was missing. Mrs Baker kept going with her normal routine, telling her students that her saddened eyes had just been allergies.
Why did Meryl lee say she would move? Where was she going to have to live?
Because her dad didn’t get the contract, and his company was going to go out of business.
To her grandmas house in Kingston (187)
What did the students have to practice in May?
They had drills for if an atomic bomb was dropped, they had to hid under their desks. (208)
(JK - It is still from May)
How did Holling feel about seeing all of the beautiful architecture? (222-223)
He loved it. He said, "I saw my town as if I had just arrived. It was as if I was waking up."
“They were going to win hands down. What chumps.” He shook his head.“They’re about to go under now, but If you can’t play for keeps, you shouldn’t be in the business in the first place. And Kowalski never could play for the keeps. And Hoodhood and associates can.”
Mr. Hoodhood (Holling's Dad)
What happened on Meryl Lee and Holling's date that Holling would come to regret?
He showed Meryl Lee the plans his father came up with for the new Junior High. (Their companies were competing for the contract).
What are the "Ides of March?"
Mar 15 - Romans broke up their calendars by chunks, the "Ides" were the middle days.
This is a reference to Julius Caesar because he was warned by a fortune teller to "Beware the Ides of March" and that is when he was killed.
It becomes an idiom for the feeling like something bad is going to happen.
How did Heather Hoodhood respond when they found out that MLK Jr was killed?
BONUS: What was the first sign of HUMANITY from Holling's dad? (190)
She was so sad she couldn't come down for dinner.
He DID NOT MAKE Heather come down for dinner, and every once in a while he would glance up at where her room was and say, "How could this happen?"
What was Mr. Hoodhood mad about having to do with the Yankees? Who do you think had something to do with this?
(211) Kowalski and Associates were given the contract to renovate Yankee Stadium. It was a multi-million dollar job.
Mrs. Baker must have put in a good word to help Meryl Lee and her family when she went to talk to the owner.
(JK - Still May - so much happened then)
Holling tells Mrs. Baker that he doesn't think that hiding under desks will prepare them for an atomic attack. Why do they do it?
He asked WHAT ELSE HE CAN DO - what was her answer?
She tells him that they do it "because it gives comfort."
First, learn to diagram sentences (a joke)
Then, use all that you have learned to grow up to be a wise, good man. (225)
“It’s not how much you spend on a lady,” said ****. “It’s how much you give her of yourself”
Mrs. Baker
She was trying to reassure Holling when he was so worried about not being able to provide Meryl Lee with a fancy date on Valentine's Day.
Meryl Lee and Holling LEGITIMATELY like one another, why would she give her father the plans when she knew it would be bad for Holling and Hoodhood Associates?
Her dad's company will likely go out of business if they don't get the Junior High contract.
What happens when Holling’s dad asks his sister to work at his office? What ends up happening?
She says she is already working for Bobby Kennedy. The dad doesn’t like Bobby Kennedy and decides for her that she will work in his office. The sister cannot go against him, so she has to work for him, page #165
Holling was supposed to go to the OPENING DAY game at Yankee Stadium. What happened (that was VERY typical)? WHO solved the problem, and how?
His dad didn't come to get him and he was going to miss it. Mrs. Baker took him to the game. (193)
Where did Holling’s sister go? With who? Why? (213)
She went towards the Rocky Mountains (on her way to California) with Chit to be a flower child and to “find herself”. She wanted to make decisions for herself.
(JK - Still May)
Does the mom go with Holling to get Heather? Why or why not?
It is heavily implied that even though she disagreed, she could NOT go against what Mr. Hoodhood wanted, but she encourages Holling to help.
*** walked up and down the aisles, and we each took a plate with a fried banana smothered in caramel sauce on it.
And when *** got to Mai Thi, she stopped, and lifted a plate down onto her desk, and said, "I am so sorry, Mai Thi. I am so sorry."
Mrs. Bigio
After Mai Thi showed her bravery against the rats, the school began to tease her about them. They told her that rats must be on the menu where she is from. They made fun of her in front of Mrs. Bigio one day, and Mai Thi broke down and cried. Then, Mrs. Bigio understood how much Mai Thi had been through too.
What honorable thing did Mr. Kowalski do (regarding the plans for the Junior High).
He withdrew his bid for the contract.
What did Mrs. Baker helped Holling do?
How was she prepared to do such a thing?
She helped him fix his running form and prepare for tryouts. She was prepared because she used be be an Olympic runner
How did the Yankees react to Mrs. Baker? How did they know her?
They were all gathered around her. They were excited because they remembered her from the Melbourn Olympics. She had nearly won.
How did Holling's dad react when he found out Heather had run away with Chit?
How did MRS. Hoodhood feel about it? (214)
He complained that it would be a bad image for his company and he wouldn't get the Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year of 1968 award because of Kowalski and Associates.
She didn't make him his favorite (lima beans) and wouldn't ride with him in his Mustang. She is worried about Heather and wants Mr. Hoodhood to care more.
Why is Mrs. Baker in a good mood and agrees to take the kids camping even though she hates it?
237 - She found out that her husband was found and out of the jungle AND coming home!
She takes them because she and Mr. Baker used to take them. He LOVED camping.
“I think he became a man who brought peace and wisdom to his world, because he knew about war and folly. I think that he loved greatly because he had seen what lost love is. And I think he came to know, too, that he was loved greatly.” She looked at the strawberry in her hands. “But I thought you didn’t want me to tell you your future.”
Mrs. Baker.
How did Mr. Hoodhood react when he heard Kowalski and Associates pulled their bid for the Junior High contract?
He made fun of him calling him a "chump" and saying that he would have won and that he should have "played for keeps."
He didn't acknowledge AT ALL that it was the HONORABLE thing to do.
What made Holling run faster during tryouts?
Who were the only 2 people who WERE NOT afraid?
Sycroax and Caliban were chasing him. p179
Mrs. Sidman (the new principal) and Mai Thi (176)
Why did Mrs. Baker want to speak to the boss of the Yankees?
They were looking for an architect. (197)
Why does Mrs. Baker take Holling on a trip to look at Architecture? 219-221
He is angry about his dad and he says he "doesn't' want to be like him."
Mrs. Baker thinks that he would be a good architect - she has seen his drawings.
How did Danny "become a man?"
How did HOLLING become a man?
259 Danny had his Bar Mitzvah
261 He stood up to his dad when he was rude about Danny's Bar Mitzvah.