Vocabulary
crinkling, stubble, caressed, wafting
Sometimes, Eve _______________________ Grandpa’s face, enjoying his sandpaper skin.
caressed
crinkling, stubble, caressed, wafting
As Eve noticed the scent of apple pie _______________________ through her home, she immediately thought of her grandfather.
wafting
Based on Melly's conversation with her father on page 181, do you think she will try to dive? Explain.
She will try to dive, because she seems like a strong-willed person who wants to prove her strength to others. (p.181)
Where is Melly's mother?
The way Melly's father and Mama Tochi talk about her, it is assumed she is either gone or deceased (dead).
What game was Mama Tochi playing when she decided to cheat?
Bingo
crinkling
A) Nico was crushing his paper lunch bag so he could toss it into the trash.
B) His oatmeal cookies were crumbling all over his sandwich wrapper.
crinkling, stubble, caressed, wafting
Grandpa spent hours baking and Eve enjoyed watching him _______________________ and creasing the edges of the pie crust.
crinkling
External conflict in the story.
Melly vs. Mr. Otero's Authority
example of man vs man
Why does Melly choose not to jump from the bridge?
She realizes that there are other ways to prove that she’s grown up. (p.188)
Why does Melly go talk to her Mama Tochi?
Melly wants to talk about diving off of the bridge and knows Mama Tochi will tell one of her "cuentos" or stories that have a lesson mixed in.
stubble
A) My younger brother’s face feels like peach fuzz when he forgets to shave.
B) When my dad forgets to shave, his cheeks feels like my hairbrush.
B
crinkling, stubble, caressed, wafting
Once, when Eve tried to climb an apple tree, she fell. Grandpa _______________________ her scratched knees until she felt a little better.
caressed
Internal Conflict in the story
Melly vs herself deciding whether or not she should dive
What mood does this picture of a garden evoke?
It sets up a beautiful, comforting, familiar atmosphere. This image evokes a mood of cheerfulness and peace.
How does Mama Tochi help Melly resolve her conflict about whether or not to cheat on a test?
Mama Tochi tells her a story about cheating at bingo and feeling guilty about it. This convinces Melly not to cheat. (p.185)
caressed
A) The mother gently touched her baby to calm him.
B) The babysitter rocked the baby in her lap to make him laugh.
A
crinkling, stubble, caressed, wafting
Eve could picture Grandpa’s eyes _______________________ as he laughed at one of his own stories.
crinkling
What details in the paragraph help you visualize the scene?
“Melly blushed. She stood and set her rod on a rock, then stretched. She held her face and wondered if it was red from the sun. Red from her father’s touch?”
The paragraph tells us that Melly’s face is flushed red from sun or embarrassment, that there are rocks along the river bank and that the sun is shining. (p.182)
How does the description of the garden establish the tone of Melly’s relationship with Mama Tochi?
It suggests that Melly’s talk with her grandmother will be comforting and helpful.
How does Mama Tochi’s story about smoking on page 187 relate to Melly’s internal conflict?
Mama Tochi is saying that you don’t have to do something just because other people are doing it. Melly doesn’t have to dive because the boys do it. (p.187)
wafting
A) The wind was blowing in great gusts across the prairie.
B) She enjoyed the smell of the grass drifting through the window.
B
crinkling, stubble, caressed, wafting
Grandpa didn’t like to shave but he didn’t like beards, so there was often _______________________ on his face.
stubble
How do Jensen’s Bridge and the town of Three Oaks fuel Melly’s external conflict with her father?
In Three Oaks, jumping from the bridge is a rite of passage for boys. Sitting on the bank and looking at the bridge makes Melly want to prove herself by jumping too, but her father forbids her because he’s afraid she’ll get hurt. (p.181)
What does the first paragraph on page187 tell you about the setting?
Mama Tochi has a television and likes to watch Mexican soap operas. That tells readers that the story takes place in modern times. We also know that this part of the story takes place in Mama Tochi’s house. (p.187)
What is significant about the “sweetness of the flowers and herbs” setting detail in the last paragraph of the story?
Mama Tochi loves flowers, and the scent reminds Melly of her grandmother’s wisdom. (p.188)