Characters
This boy is the main character and tells most of the story.
Who is Joel?
Joel and Tony are walking home from this place when they begin talking about going to the river.
What is the park?
This is the river where the most important event in the story happens.
What is the Vermillion River?
This word means a promise to tell the truth.
What is on my honor/Oath
This is what you should do before making a choice.
What is thinking/thinking about it?
This is Joel’s friend who wants to swim in the river.
Who is Tony?
Tony wants to do this in the Vermillion River.
What is swimming?
This is the place where Joel and Tony spend time before going to the river.
What is the park?
This word means feeling bad about doing something wrong.
What is guilt?
What should Joel do when something serious happens?
What is telling the truth?
This younger boy is Joel’s brother.
Who is Bobby?
This is the place Tony and Joel end up going to.
What is the river?
What kind of place does Joel live in?
What is a small town or neighborhood community?
This word means not safe.
What is dangerous?
What can friends sometimes do?
What is pressuring to make a bad choice?
This character is related to Joel, who warns the boys to stay away from the river.
Who is Joel’s father?
This happened to Tony in the river.
What is drowning ?
What is dangerous about the river?
What is strong or deep water?
This word means what happens after a bad choice.
What is a consequence?
What should you do if you are in danger?
What is asking for help, or going to safety?
This character is important even though he is not present for most of the action. His disappearance makes Joel face the results of his choice.
Who is Tony?
What does Joel do after Tony disappears?
What is keeping quiet or not telling anyone?
This is where Tony and Joel were SUPPOSED to go.
What is Starved Rock?
This word describes someone who makes good choices and does what they are supposed to.
What is being responsible?
This is what being honest means.
What is telling the truth?