Characters
Plot Terms
Events
Characterization
Inferences, Comparisons, Contrasts, and Symbols
100
This is Rob's dad, who is like a father figure to Gerald and helps him.

Who is Mr. Washington?

100

The high point of the story, or the turning point-- Gerald saves his little sister!

What is the climax?

100

This is how Gerald ends up living with Aunt Queen.

What is the fire? or What is the incarceration of his mother?

100

Aunt Queen stands up to the doctor when he assumes that Gerald has no father.  This shows a character trait in Aunt Queen. 

What is strength?  What is power?

100

This brother and sister are happy and well-taken care of.  This is a contrast to Gerald and Angel.

Who are Rob and Kiara Washington?

200

The protagonist, he grows into someone confident by the end of the book.

Who is Gerald?

200

In this part of the plot, we learn that Gerald is allowed to sit in a soiled diaper and left alone to play with a lighter.  Basically, we learn that he is a neglected little boy.

What is the exposition?

200

Gerald's best birthday present and Angel's best Christmas present

What are the bike and the cat?

200

This shows how smart Gerald is.

What is breaking the bed?  or What is knowing CPR at a young age?

200

When Aunt Queen scolds Gerald for almost getting killed on his scooter, she is shown to be the opposite of this character who left Gerald at risk all the time.

Who is Monique?

300
She won't take off her tights because she doesn't want anyone to see her bruises; she is Gerald's half-sister.

Who is Angel?

300

In this part of plot, we see that Monique is ready to prioritize her kids.

What is the resolution?

300

This is how Gerald ends up living with his mother and Jordan.

What is Aunt Queen's death from a heart attack?

300

This action from Angel shows how terrified of Jordan she really is.

What is throwing up?

300

These are the emotions that young Gerald felt when he burned down his home at age three.

What are guilt, shame, a lack of self-confidence?

400

The antagonist, he stays wicked from the beginning to the end.

Who is Jordan?

400

In this part, events build in intensity--Gerald and Mr. Washington work to get Jordan arrested, Gerald's friend dies.

What is the rising action?

400

This is why Gerald messes up at his basketball game.

What is the fact that he sees Jordan?

400

Angel tells her mother that there are no babies there, which shows this about Angel.

What is the fact that Angel has grown up a little and become stronger?

400

The second fire provides this for Gerald.

What is strength, confidence, the feeling of being a hero?

500

She dresses in her finest and looks for her man instead of watching her children at their events.

Who is Monique?

500

After Gerald saves his sister, he learns that Jordan has died.  What part of the plot is this?

What is the falling action?

500

This happens to Monique when she goes to get cigarettes for Jordan.

What is getting hit by a car?

500

Jordan doesn't care that the kids are sweaty, but he gets very upset when this possession of his is stolen.  

What is the air conditioner?

500

This phrase is an idiom describing someone who is made stronger by going through severe hardships.  

What is forged by fire?