Vocabulary
Dirk Blitzenstein is eagerly anticipating his Turkish hair transplant. Is he dreading the experience or excited for it?
He is excited.
On what memorable HISTORICAL day did this story take place?
The Assassination of JFK. 11/22/63.
What is one THEME of American History?
Prejudice. The difficulty of assimilation. Loss of innocence. The pain of growing up. Imagination vs reality. Grief.
What is one simile in American History?
Snow fell like a white veil, building was like a jukebox or a prison etc.
What is the Capitol of Washington state?
Olympia.
Eugene
Where does this story take place?
Paterson, New Jersey.
Why did Elena like Eugene before she ever offically met him?
How did Elena's experience of Puerto Rico differ from her expectations based on her parent's stories?
Elena's first experience was her Grandmother's funeral in which people were mourning, her mother slept for two days after being given a sedative, and crowds of strangers claiming to be her relatives.
6 of the top 10 marathon times of all time were accomplished by runners from what country?
Kenya
Is it preferable that your future spouse be devoted or not?
Yes. Devoted means extremely committed, loyal, loving or dedicated.
How did the other girls on the playground treat Elena? What did they call her?
They bullied her and took racist shots at her. They called her Skinny Bones and mocked her for eating beans, rice and pork chops.
The girls on the playground. Eugene's mother.
He was described as a disciplinarian and a burly man so the contrast of him crying over Kennedy's death was a shock to them.
What is the capital of Spain?
S.
What is a synonym for the word enthralled?
Captivated. Obsessed. Fascinated. Spellbound.
How did the narrator describe Eugene's mother's voice? (Not what she said to Elena, just her voice).
Tiny and sweet-sounding. Honey-drenched.
What is one internal conflict Elena faces?
Her inability to properly feel what she thinks she should feel about the President's murder.
Her desire for the future vs reality
Body image issues.
The shame she feels about living in El Building.
The other girls in the yard seemed to be warm. It means they felt a sense of belonging and community that Elena is left out of.
What is the Capitol of Spain?
Madrid.
If Damon Salvatore expressed elation regarding his test score what would you guess his score was?
A+. 100%. A.
What Spanish word does Elena's mother use to describe her infatuation with Eugene?
Enamorada
What is one example of a character that experiences nostalgia in this story? For what are they nostalgic?
Elena's parent's are nostalgic for Puerto Rico.
What novel enthralled Elena? Why did she want to ask Eugene about it?
Gone With the Wind. The story takes place in Georgia where Eugene is from.
List as many Presidents as you can going backwards from the current President.
Trump, Biden, Trump, Obama, Bush Jr., Clinton, Bush Sr., Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman, Roosevelt, Hoover, Coolidge, Harding, Wilson, Taft, Roosevelt