Comprehension One
Describe Marisol
Marisol is Jackson's best friend, she loves to wear pajamas to school, and build things for animals.
Why does Jackson think it is easier to be hungry in winter than in the summer?
In the winter, Jackson is in school and is able to receive free breakfast and after school snack
In the summer, there is no school, so he cannot get any free food
What part of the shoplifting process does Jackson feel the worst about?
He felt guilty about the lying part
In chapter 48, what does Jackson decide he is going to do because he is tired of worrying all the time?
He writes a note to his parents that he is going to live with Marisol and not in the mini van with them
What does it mean when a character is dynamic? Give an example.
What are some things that upset Jackson? What upsets him the most?
He does not like that he is different from other kids, that he gets hungry sometimes, but what upsets him the most, is that he cannot control anything
Jackson says, “Lately, I felt like I always had to be on alert for the next raccoon invasion.” What does he mean by this?
He always had to be prepared for the next problem that his family faces
What does Jackson say after he tells Marisol that he still sees Crenshaw?
Jackson tells her that she probably thinks he is crazy and that Crenshaw is not facts and life is all about facts
In chapter 49, who does Crenshaw say to tell the truth to?
Crenshaw wants Jackson to tell the truth to himself
What does it mean when a character is static? Give an example.
When a character stays the same throughout the novel. An example would be Robin or the parents
When did Jackson lose Crenshaw?
When things got back to "normal", when he met Marisol and started school
Why does Jackson convince himself that his father’s face was wet because of the rain?
Jackson does not want to think about his father crying and being sad about the situation that they are in.
After Jackson tells Marisol that “Crenshaw isn’t facts, life is about facts”, what does she explain to him, and how can we determine a theme from her response.
What do Jackson’s parents promise him after he breaks down and tells them how he feels?
They promise to tell him as much of the truth as they can from now on.
When Jackson’s dad is done at the intersection, his mom says, “Next time, I’ll do it.” Jackson’s dad says, “No, you won’t.” What is one reason why Jackson’s dad might be against his mom standing at the intersection and singing in order to get money?
He feels guilty that mom took care of the family financially when he got sick with MS.
What does Jackson find comforting about school?
What does Marisol say when Jackson tells her a little about Crenshaw?
Marisol tells Jackson that she had her own imaginary friend (whoops) and wishes that she would come back
“BAM” it splintered into shards - what kind of figurative language is this?
Onomatopoeia
In chapter 51, Robin tells the truth about the purple jelly beans from the beginning of the novel, what does this make Jackson realize?
While Jackson and his family lived in their minivan for 14 weeks, why does he consider himself lucky?
He considers himself lucky because most people are homeless for longer than 14 weeks.
What is a metaphor?
Give an example
A metaphor is a type of figurative language that compares two things WITHOUT using like or as and making one thing a symbol for the other
My students have hearts of gold
The raccoon nibbled his diamond carefully
What is a hyperbole?
Give an example
A hyperbole is a type of figurative language that shows an exaggeration
Example: I need to eat lunch now! I'm starving to death!
What are the three kinds of connections and what do they mean?
Text to world - making a connection between the book and something that is happening or has happened in the world
Text to self - making a connection between the book and your own life
Text to text - making a connection between two books or passages
His teeth were like little knives - what kind of figurative language is this?
Simile
What question is Dad asked at the end of the yard sale? What is Robin’s response? Why does she respond this way?
A man asks to buy his guitar. Robin gets very upset and refuses to let the dad sell it because Jackson is named after the guitar which is very special to their family