Character Connections
This main character loves her "Sketchbook of Impossible Things" and struggles to read.
Who is Ally Nickerson?
Ally gets in big trouble at the baby shower for giving Mrs. Hall this specific type of card.
What is a sympathy card?
If Ally is an "optimist," it means she has this kind of outlook on the future.
What is hopeful or positive?
Ally uses this notebook to draw things that she thinks could never happen in real life.
What is the Sketchbook of Impossible Things?
his is the name of the new teacher who takes over for Mrs. Hall.
Who is Mr. Daniels?
This student wears a "Flint" t-shirt every day and knows an incredible amount of facts about science. He brought a jar of water for show and tell.
Who is Albert?
During Show and Tell, Ally brings in a 1943 "Steel Penny" that was given to her by this person.
Who is her father?
This word describes Albert’s physical size; it means large, heavy, or massive.
What is bulky?
Ally says that for her, letters on a page look like "dancing ants" or a bowl of this food.
What is alphabet soup?
Instead of a "get to know you" worksheet, Mr. Daniels gives the students this to show their personalities.
What is a blank piece of paper?
She is an outspoken new student who wants to be a baker and stands up to bullies.
Who is Keisha?
Ally describes a bad day as a "wooden nickel" day and a great day as this.
What is a "silver dollar" day?
Ally uses this word to describe the feeling of being embarrassed or ashamed in front of the class.
What is humiliating?
This 1943 coin is valuable specifically because it is "different," much like Ally herself.
What is the Steel Penny?
Mr. Daniels uses this "fist-bump" greeting with his students, which makes Ally feel...
What is included, special, or safe?
Ally’s older brother who is a "genius" with car engines but also finds schoolwork difficult.
Who is Travis?
In Chapter 3, Ally visits the office and pretends she can read this item hanging on the wall.
What is a poster?
Mr. Daniels asks Shay to keep her comments "constructive," meaning they should be..
What is helpful or intended to improve something?
Ally uses this two-word term to describe how she visualizes stories and images in her head.
What are "mind movies"?
Unlike other teachers, Mr. Daniels notices that Ally's "bad behavior" is actually a way of doing this.
What is hiding or masking her reading struggle?
This character is the class bully who makes Ally feel "less than" because of her reading struggles.
Who is Shay?
This is the specific reason Albert says he has bruises on his arms.
What is being bullied/hit by a group of boys (and choosing not to fight back)?
Ally’s choice of a card for a baby shower was described as "inappropriate," meaning it was...
What is not suitable or proper for the occasion?
When Ally thinks about school, she often feels like a "fish in a tree," which is an example of this literary device.
What is a metaphor?
Mr. Daniels tells the class, "I'm not going to be like the others." This shows he values this in his students.
What is their unique differences or potential?