Chapter 1
In chapter 1 Mia tells us her favorite food. Which is her favorite food?
a. French Fries
b. Hot dogs
c. Hamburgers
c. Hamburgers
What is the name of the motel that the Tang family works at?
The Calivista Motel.
Name some of the rules the Tang family have to follow while working at the Motel.
BONUS 100 points for each rule you come up with!
* If something breaks, they must pay for it.
* Someone in the family must always be at the Motel.
* The three can never go out together.
* Mia isn't allowed to use the pool.
In the beginning of Chapter 4 Mia goes to visits her new school. How many schools has Mia been to so far?
"So far, I'd gone to four different schools for five different grades."- pg. 17
Why did customers keep asking for the manager even though Mia was there at the front desk?
The customers kept asking for the manager because Mia was so young and they thought she couldn't be the manager.
Why did the Tang family move to America?
To have a better life and because it is "freer" in America. (pg. 4)
True or false?
Mia must press a buzzer every time to let someone inside the motel.
True. - See page 9 for more details.
The Tangs celebrate their new job by drinking what?
a. chai tea from China
b. jasmine tea from China
c. coffee from China
b. jasmine tea from China
In the beginning of Chapter 4 Mia goes to visit her new school.
There she meets her new principal. What is the Principal's name?
Principal Evans. - pg.18
What did Mia do to make people know she was the manager?
She made a little sign and put it on her desk and she would stare at them for a long time to make them know she was the manager. - pg. 21
Who owns the Motel that the Tang family works at?
Mr. Yao (pg. 5)
Who is the first customer Mia meets at the Motel?
BONUS 200 POINTS if you can describe what the character looks like.
Hank.
"I looked up to see a thin African American man about fifty or so years old, smiling and waving at me." - pg. 10
In America, we say "Cheese!" when we smile to take a picture.
In China they say a different word when they take a picture.
Do you remember the word Mia's mom says when taking a picture?
Eggplant! - pg. 14
In the beginning of Chapter 4 Mia goes to visit her new school.
There she meets her new Principal. Mia's mom tells the Principal that Mia just came from China. Then the Principal starts talking really slow to Mia.
Why do you think she does this?
The Principal might think that Mia doesn't understand English.
What time did Mr. Stein want to be waken up by?
a. 5 am
b. 6 am
c. 7 am
a. 5 am
What were some of the perks (bonuses or good things) about working at the Motel?
The perks were that the Tang family are promised $150 per day and can live rent free at the motel.
Hank tells Mia he is not a regular customer at the motel, but a weekly.
What does mean to be a weekly?
"A weekly is someone who pays by the week." - pg. 11
Mia shares a cup of the celebratory drink with one of the weeklies. Which weekly does she share the drink with?
a. Billy Bob
b. Hank
c. Mrs. Q
b. Hank
How many Chinese kids are in the fifth grade including Mia?
Two kids. (Mia and Jason) - pg. 18
VOCABULARY
Read this line from the text:
"That's because mammals are social creatures and we're really into hierarchy. At the top, you have your alpha (the leader) and then the betas and omegas."
What does the word hierarchy (hi-arc-e) mean?
Hierarchy is a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority. (Mostly from greatest to least)
Ex:
1. Alpha
2. Betas
3. Omegas
On page 6, Mr. Yao says "Of course he speaks good English. He was born here... He speaks native English."
What does it mean to speak native English?
To speak native English means to speak the language without a foreign accent. To be well versed in the language and to speak like someone who was born in America.
There are 5 weeklies who stay at the motel.
Name the 5 weeklies.
"There were five of them at the Calivista- they were Mrs. Q, Mrs. T, Hank, Billy Bob, and Fred." - pg. 11
At the end of Chapter 3 Mia and Mr. Hank talk about Mr. Yao.
Read the following text from the story below and then answer the question:
"Hey, Hank, what'd you mean by what you said earlier about Mr. Yao? I asked. "That he was anything but all right?"
Hank's jaw locked.
"You'll soon find out kid," Hank said. "The man has coal for a heart."
What does it mean to have coal as a heart?
To have coal as a heart means to not have a heart, to be a cold person with no feelings.
Mia become angry when her mom tells the Principal she just came from China because they have been in America for 2 years.
What reason does Mia's mom give her for telling the Principal this information?
Mia's mom says "So she'd cut you some slack."
Mia's mom thinks the other children will speak better English than Mia since they were born here in America. - pg. 19
VOCABULARY
Read this line from the text:
"The Calivista had an old- fashion orange phone with a ton more buttons than a usual one. I didn't know what the extra buttons did, and for a second I fantasized that if we pushed the wrong button, the motel will start flying." - pg. 22
What does the word fantasized mean?
fantasized (v.) (past- tense) To daydream or to imagine to happen.