Poems
The Disaster / Aftermath
Kai's Family
Kai
NYC & The End
100

The poet uses ________ to show dialogue

italics

100

When did the earthquake and tsunami take place? Month and Year.

March 2011
100

Who are in Kai's immediate family right before the tsunami?

Mom, Grandma, Grandpa

100

Who becomes Kai's protege?

Guts

100

Who are the 2 people Kai meets whose families died in 9/11?

Tom and Fia

200

Up from the Sea is an example of a ________ novel

verse

200

Who does Kai not like at the beginning but eventually learns to appreciate and respect because of their shared tragedy?

Taro Nishi

200

When is the last time Kai "sees" his grandmother?

When he identifies her body

200

Who were Kai's best friends? What happened to each in the tsunami?

Shin - survived. Ryu - missing/dead.

200

Why doesn't Kai's dad find him immediately after the tsunami?

He was in rehab

300

About what does Kai say, "And English / Gives me freedom. / Even if I make mistakes / it doesn't seem / to matter"

Talking about his experience in the tsunami that he hasn't shared with anyone yet
300

Why is the pine tree important to Kai? (2 reasons)

It is the only tree that survived, and it is the one he climbed during the tsunami

300

What did Kai's grandfather do during the tsunami?

He sailed into the wave

300

What does "hafu" mean?

Half Japanese, half foreign

300

Who does Kai credit when he reunites with his dad?

Tom

400

What is the purpose of the underlined titles in the text?

To indicate a new idea is starting and to indicate the main idea of the next poem.

400

What does the O-Bon festival celebrate and accomplish?

Celebrates deceased ancestors. Guiding spirits to the afterlife with lanterns

400

When Kai tries to leave the auditorium to find his family during the aftershocks, who all try to stop him? (3 people).

Aki-Sensei, Taro Nishi, Keiko

400

How is Kai treated for being "hafu?" Use 1 specific example of how he was treated from the novel.

Never passed ball to him, spit on him, kicked him.

400

Why is it important that Kai throws away his broken phone when he’s in New York?

It’s a step toward healing and overcoming his grief.

500

Describe a poem from the tsunami section that shows unconventional poetic form.

Varies. Teacher judgment

500

What is the Tanabata festival and how do people celebrate it?

It celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar.

People generally celebrate this day by writing wishes on small pieces of paper and hanging them on bamboo

500

What does Kai say about how his world changed after his dad left? 

His world became focused on soccer ("one small ball")

500

What is the significance of the last section of the book titled "Arrived?"

Varies. Teacher evaluation of answer.

500

Why does Kai choose to stay in Japan?

He wants to help his community rebuild

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