Interesting Facts
There are three main sharecropping farms. They are owned by white families named...
Montier, Granger, and Harrison
Who shows up at the Revival and talks to the Logan children?
TJ comes with RW and Melvin Simms. He's trying to make Stacey jealous.
Jeremy Simms did not feel safe or comfortable with his family. They were not nice people and he avoided spending time with them. What did he build in the woods?
He built a bedroom for himself in the trees.
Cassie learned a lesson in Strawberry at the Barnet Mercantile. She had to grow up a little bit that day. What hard lesson did she have to learn?
Black and White are not treated equally. Life isn't fair.
Books, licorice, oranges, bananas, and new clothes from Uncle Hammer.
The Barnett Mercantile in Strawberry had an item that TJ was desperate to own. What was it? And how did he get it?
It was a pearl handled revolver. He and the oldest Simms brothers, RW and Melvin, broke into the store, hurt the Barnett's, and stole it.
How did the white land owners try to control and end the boycott on the Wallace's store?
They raised the percentage that sharecropping farmers must pay and threatened eviction if families did not start shopping at the Wallace's store.
Papa, "You know the Bible says you're s'pose to forgive these things... S'pose to turn the other cheek...But the way I see it, the Bible didn't mean for you to be no fool... I figure forgiving is not letting something nag at you - rotting you out." Papa explains that forgiveness is given to prevent you from rotting. But he said that she doen't have to do what?
Forget. Don't let people take advantage of you.
How did Lillian Jean respond when Cassie befriended her?
Lillian Jean told Cassie her secrets, and the secrets of her friends. She seemed lonely and like she really enjoyed having a friend.
What did Uncle Hammer do to help the Logans save the farm when the bank demanded full payment of the mortgage?
He sold his car and travelled to Mississippi to deliver the money in person.
The state provides funding for the Jefferson Davis School (the white school). Who provides funding for the school that the black students attend?
Money comes from the church. The state provides the bare minimum, such as books that had been destined for the trash.
Why did the bank suddenly decide that the Logan's needed to pay off their mortgage in full?
They were upset about the boycott of the Wallace's store.
Why does TJ come to Stacey when he's in trouble?
The Logans show time and time again how important family is to them. They take care of one another and sacrifice for one another. What can we learn from looking at Jeremy Simms' family?
Not all families are worth protecting or fighting for. MW, Melvin, and Lillian Jean are unkind to Jeremy. He does not fit in his family and is drawn to the love and care he sees in the Logan family.
How did MW and Melvin get away with what they did at the Barnett's store with TJ?
They wore stocking masks over their faces and the Barnetts thought that they looked black like TJ.
What did Mr. Morrison do when Kaleb Wallace blocked his path on the road with his pickup truck?
He told the children to duck down in the wagon, walked around inspecting the truck, and then lifted the truck to move it out of his way.
He was shot and got a broken leg when the wagon rolled over it. He was unable to return to the railroad to work in the spring.
What is Cassie's go-to emotion when things seem unfair and do not go the way she thinks they should?
Revenge and anger
What is the lesson that Papa give Cassie about the trees? He compares the family to the little Fig Tree.
Papa says that we keep doing what we have to do and we don't give up even if we aren't the biggest or strongest.
Who came to the Avery's home to try to stop the Night Men from harming TJ or his family any more?
Mr. Jamison came and brought the Sheriff
How did Papa prevent the men from hurting TJ anymore?
He set the fire. Everyone thought it was a lightening strike. Because it was near Harlan Granger's land, Granger ordered the others to let Mr. Morrison and the Sheriff take TJ so they could all help fight the fire.
Why aren't TJ's parents able to straighten him out with his cheating, visiting the Wallace's store, and spending time with the much older Simms boys?
Mr. Avery is sick. Both parents are discouraged and have begun to give up with life being so hard for them.
Jeremy came to give the children an update on the fire early in the morning. Who were they surprised to learn came to help?
All of the men came to help fight the fire, black and white alike worked together.
At the end of the novel, Cassie has had to grow up and learn so many difficult lessons. Rather than revenge, at the end of the book, Cassie cries for what two things?
For TJ and the trees.
What is the climax of the novel?
When the trees catch fire