About the Book
Characters
Events
Afghanistan
Quotes
100

How is the author of ‘Boy Overboard’?

Morris Gleitzman

100

Name the character who lost a leg in a landmine explosion.

Yusuf

100

Where does the government take Jamal’s mum before she is rescued?

The football stadium

100

What is the main religion in Afghanistan?

Islam

100

What quote does Jamal say throughout the book?

“Never give up, even when things are looking hopeless.”

200

What colour is the oval on the front cover (the one behind the author’s name)?

Red

200

Who threatens to call the police when Jamal and Bibi break his window?

Mr Nasser

200

How doe Jamal and Bibi get separated from their parents?

The football falls into the water and they have to retrieve it.

200

What group of people ruled Afghanistan when Jamal lived there?

The Taliban

200

Who is Bibi talking about when she says, “That camel-snot needs someone to teach him a lesson, starting with the news that yellow is a very unfashionable colour”?

One of the mean sailors

300

Name ONE other book Morris Gleitzman has written:

Possible Answers: Girl Underground, Two Weeks with the Queen, Teacher’s Pet, Once, Toad Heaven… and more!

300

What colour is Rashida’s lipstick?

Green

300

What important family heirloom does Jamal’s mother sell?

Candlestick

300

Name one thing girls were not allowed to do in the story.

Possible answers: go to school, play football, go outside alone…

300

Who says, “In English, the word overboard also means to do something that is bold, wild, dangerous and daring.”

Yusuf’s grandfather

400

Name THREE things floating in the ocean on the front cover.

Car, football, candlestick, atlas, painting, paintbrush

400

Who says to Jamal, “You need medical attention…We haven’t even got an X-ray machine.”?

Andrew

400

Why aren’t Rashida’s parents on the boat with her?

Her parents only had enough money to send one person over.

400

Name a type of unique clothing people wear in Afghanistan

Possible answers: tunbaan, chador (headscarf), hijab, burqa, peraahan tunbaan, turban, chapan, karakul…

400

Who says, “My brother died when he was a baby, so when I came along I got his name.”?

Rashida

500

How many chapters are in the book?

42

500

Who is described as “a small kid but he’s fast”?

Aziz

500

What idea does Jamal come up with to attract his dad to find him in the refugee camp?

He thinks if he bakes some bread his dad will smell it and come and find him.

500

Name a country that borders Afghanistan.

Possible answers: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, China, and Iran.

500

Who says, “Where I come from, Dubbo Abattoirs United are world beaters. They’ve won the Western District Trophy for the last nine years.”?

One of the Australian UN workers in the refugee camp.

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