Names & Nicknames
One of the nicknames Dana gives Roy.
What is Cowgirl?
The city and state where Roy lived before he moved to Florida.
What is Bozeman, Montana?
Roy's enemy on the school bus.
Who is Dana Matherson?
Officer Delinko tries to get on Mr. Eberhardt's good side. What does he want from him and why?
He hopes Roy's dad will write a letter on his behalf, saying he is a good police officer. He hopes to be a detective one day.
Roy thinks a lot about where he used to live, comparing it to where he lives now. He remembers that ospreys (a kind of bird) live in both locations. What does this memory lead him to believe about himself?
He decides if the ospreys can adapt, so can he.
The reason that Running Boy also called Mullet Fingers?
What is he can catch the slippery little fish.
The alligators found on the Mother Paula's construction site were found here.
What are the port-o-potties?
This happened when Officer Delinko fell asleep while on the job early one morning.
What is the windows of his squad car were pained black?
Roy proves early on in the book that he won't back down from Beatrice. Explain the "sandwich scene" and how it shows Roy's character.
Roy confronts Beatrice at lunch and says she should talk to him directly if she has a problem with him. As she listens to him, she squeezes her BBQ sandwich until the bun disintegrates. Roy is brave for confronting Beatrice.
Roy is determined to find out who the Running Boy is. He also tries to show him kindness through his actions. What is the first thing he brings him?
Size 9 shoes
The unusual feature of the snakes found at the construction site?
What is sparkly tails?
Roy was injured as he chased the Running Boy. This happened to him in this location.
What is he was hit on the head with a golf ball on the golf course.
This is the first sign of trouble at the Mother Paula's construction site.
What is pulled up the survey stakes?
The relationship between Roy and the Running Boy changes as the story progresses. Explain the moment when the Running Boy is impressed that Roy knows a thing or two about animals.
When Roy stumbles upon the Running Boy's bag of snakes, he doesn't panic but instead stays perfectly still. The Running Boy is impressed with Roy's knowledge of snakes. This happens right after Roy's "bear" flashback, when he also remembered it was important to stay still.
What is Mullet Fingers' prime motivation? Explain in detail.
Mullet Fingers wants to protect the burrowing owls that live on the construction site and prevent their habitat from being destroyed. He keeps finding ways to delay the construction schedule so the owls' habitat won't be disturbed.
This character is nicknamed "the Bear."
Who is Beatrice Leep?
Dogs are brought in to guard the Mother Paula's construction site. Their owner is from this country.
What is Germany?
Why does Roy write a letter to Dana? Explain the tone of the letter and what it says.
It's a letter of apology he is forced to write. He suggests he and Dana come to a fair arrangement by staying out of each other's way. Roy's mother calls the letter "a little too forceful." It doesn't sound apologetic.
Roy is willing to lie to his parents over and over again, even though he clearly cares about them. Recap a situation where he lies to his mother and explain why he does this.
He lies to his mother by going along with Beatrice's story about needing supplies for a "science experiment" they are working on at Beatrice's house. He trusts Beatrice because they are starting to become friends and she has proved that she looks out for him. She says she needs medical supplies and Roy suspects something must have happened to her stepbrother.
Explain Leon Leep's character and the effect he has on the Running Boy.
He is not an interested, caring stepfather to the Running Boy. They don't have anything in common and he doesn't make an effort to get to know his stepson. The Running Boy runs away -- from the wedding reception and later, from the school he is sent to in Alabama.
Curly's job title and his real name?
What is foreman at the construction site and Leroy Branitt?
The cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 11.
What is Roy's mother gets a call from the hospital saying that he is hurt.
The Mother Paula's construction site is hit three time. What are the problems Curly has to report that delay construction?
1. The survey stakes are pulled up.
2. Alligators are found in the port-o-potties.
3. Snakes scare away the guard dogs brought onsite to prevent further delays.
Beatrice has a soft side and she looks out for two characters in the book. Who are they and how does she look out for them both?
Beatrice helps take care of her stepbrother, Mullet Fingers. She brings him food and medicine in the old ice cream truck where he is staying. She looks out for Roy by sitting next to Dana on the school bus. She also saves Roy from Dana in the broom closet.
Dana Matherson is clearly a bully. Hiaasen calls a lot of attention to his hands, which are often used to terrorize his victims, including Roy. Describe how his hands are characterized.
He has a "ham-sized hand" and "pudgy fingers, which reeked of cigarettes."