The Basics
Who is the author of the story?
Carl Hiaasen
Who is the major character in the story?
Roy
What does 'plunged' mean?
So sink into.
What happens when the bus comes to a stop?
This is a short story. What is the title of the full book?
Hoot
Is the story fiction or nonfiction? What does that mean?
Fiction -- it's made up!
Why did Dana call Roy a "cowgirl"?
Roy was from Montana, where there are a lot of ranches. He thought it would also be more insulting to call him a cowgirl instead of a cowboy.
What are soles?
The bottoms of your feet.
Why wouldn't Roy have noticed the strange running boy?
He had said he wouldn't have noticed him if Dana had not been smooshing his face against the window.
What color hair did the strange boy have?
Blond -- like Hay
What is the point of view that this story is told from?
Third-person
List two minor characters that appeared in the story.
- The running boy
- Dana Matherson
What does vaulted mean?
What does Roy do at lunch?
He sits and eats with Garrett. Roy asks Garrett questions to figure out where the strange boy could have been going.
What was the running boy wearing?
A Miami Heat basketball jersey.
How many paragraphs is the story?
23
Where was Roy from?
Montana
What does it mean to "wriggle free"?
Wiggle and move your body to try and break free.
Why were the strange boy's soles all black?
He was not wearing any shoes -- his feet were dirty.
Where was the strange boy going?
We don't know! He didn't go to school.
What was the setting of the story?
A school bus that is on its way to school. Not in Montana!
How did Roy seem to feel about being bullied based on his thoughts and reactions in the story?
He didn't seem to be paying it much attention, he was much more focused on the strange boy. He called it "lame."
Use on of our four vocabulary words in a sentence that would help someone understand what it means.
Answers will vary. *Example: The stray cat had rough fur and was wiry -- clearly he had to do a lot of running with little food!
Based on the ending of the story, what do you think Roy will do next?
Look for the strange boy.
Who was fast enough to work out with the high school track squad in 7th grade?
Roy's friend from Montana -- Richard.