Characters
Who joins the military?
Sef
Hillview
What is the conflict in the beginning of the novel?
Sef joins the military
Cassie's crush
Rob
A continuous, deep sound
rumbling
Who is the protagonist of the novel?
Cassie
Which country did Sef go to fight a war?
Iraq
What disturbing thing does Sef do as a little boy?
Shoots a stray dog
Cuts her hair
Van
moved in a heavy, slow, awkward way
lumbered
Which character stops talking?
Jack
What is the name of the city where Blue Sky lives?
Baghdad
Who acts like a bully toward Jack?
Ben
The special day when Saddam Hussein is executed.
Eid
shine faintly with wavering light
glimmer
Which friend of Cassie's is mad at her because Cassie's mom was flirting with the girl's dad?
Sonia
What is the main river named in Hillview?
Who does Cassie meet because of a school project?
Blue Sky
Likes chocolate cake
Blue Sky
Fall down
Which character was once a beauty queen?
Cassie's mom
Which two cities could Blue Sky's family need to move to for safety?
Syria and Jordan
What does Cassie learn about America in the Iraq War?
Answers may vary: Iraqi people don't want them there; they are not helping; they are not treating the Iraqi people well
Who is the conflict between in Iraq? (Hint: Not Americans)
Sunnis against Shiites
covered with a dark, ashy substance
sooty