Vocab
What does the word smear mean?
to become spread or blurred.
I accidently smeared ink on the paper, and the words became hard to read.
What does feast mean?
A big meal / fancy meal.
Every Eid I have a feast.
At the beginning, how does James feel about Uncle Romi's paintings?
Too easy
What does it mean by "raining cats and dogs"?
It is raining a lot.
How does James feel about New York in the beginning of the story?
He felt nervous, anxious, concerned. He was going to a different city and didn't know his aunt and uncle.
What does glorious mean?
magnificent; wonderful.
Allah is glorious.
What does yanked mean?
To pull with a sudden short movement.
I yanked the books out of my desk.
How does James feel about his Uncle in the beginning?
Scary, uncertain, not comfortable, nothing in common
What does "chow down" mean?
Eat a lot.
How does James feel about Harlem? What about his aunt and uncle?
He likes it. His aunt and uncle also like Harlem. They go there often. I know, because when James went with his aunt, everyone greeted his aunt. That means they know her.
What does model mean?
An example of
I created a model of a home. It is a duplicate of the house, but a smaller version.
What does ruined mean?
To be damaged beyond repair / destroy
My shoes got ruined because of the mud.
What interests do James and his uncle share?
Pepper jelly, baseball, trains
What does "don't let the cat out of the bag" mean?
Don't let the secret slip!
What point of view is the story told in? How do you know?
First person - Story is told by James. He is the narrator. He uses the words I, me, and we. We only know his thoughts and feelings, not the other characters.
What does streak mean?
To mark or become marked.
The sun streaked across the sky.
What does studio mean?
Place where an artist work.
I paint in my studio on the top floor.
What happens when James and his uncle have breakfast?
They get to know each other more. James starts to feel more comfortable with his uncle.
What does it mean if a detective "cracked a case"?
Solved a crime.
What does Uncle Romie usually paint about? What type of paintings?
He usually paints about Harlem, and collages.
What does schedule mean?
A program of events, classes, or appointments.
I look at the class schedule to find out what elective I have today.
What does concerned mean?
Worried or anxious.
James was concerned coming to New York since he was unfamiliar with the city.
What is the main idea of the story?
sometimes first impressions can be wrong.
What does "sly as a fox" mean?
sneaky
How does James feel when he finds out aunt Nannette can't come to celebrate his birthday?
Sad, disappointed, homesick (missed his parents), felt like his day would be ruined.