Characters
Who wakes up in the cupola believing he can “start the town” with his breath?
Douglas Spaulding
What do Douglas and Tom collect with their grandfather to make wine?
Dandelions
What natural image does Douglas compare the rising sense of magic to in the forest?
A giant tidal wave behind him.
What does the word “rustle” describe in the scene with Leo Auffmann riding his bike?
The soft sound of hot grass moving in the wind.
What morning marks the true beginning of summer for Douglas?
The first morning he wakes in the cupola.
Which character obsessively records numbers and statistics?
Tom Spaulding
What is the symbolic meaning of bottling dandelion wine?
Saving a piece of summer / memories of the year.
What does the ravine symbolize for boys in Green Town?
The border between childhood/adventure and danger/the unknown.
In the line “the wind blew like a furnace,” what does “furnace” suggest about the weather?
It was extremely hot, like intense heat from a fire.
Why does Douglas want new sneakers so badly?
They make him feel magically fast and full of summer energy.
Which adult dreams of building a “Happiness Machine” and why?
Leo Auffmann — to make life easier, joyful, and help people at all ages.
What is Douglas’s “first revelation” after wrestling with Tom in the forest?
“I’m alive.”
Why does Bradbury describe boys running as “meteors”?
To show their energy, speed, and the unstoppable force of youth.
What does “relented” mean when Mother finally lets Tom go to Mrs. Singer’s store?
She gave in and agreed after first saying no.
What important question does Leo ask his wife when he comes home?
He asks what she thinks about him inventing a Happiness Machine.
Who are the two boys who run “like meteors” and pull Douglas toward the ravine?
Charlie Woodman and John Huff
What two sections does Douglas create in his notebook?
Rites and Ceremonies + Discoveries and Revelations
In the scene with the new sneakers, what do the Litefoot shoes symbolize for Douglas?
They symbolize freedom, speed, magical possibility — the feeling that he can “do anything” in summer.
What does “to plump up pillows” mean when Mother prepares the bed?
To shake and fluff them to make them soft and comfortable.
What small household sounds signal that summer evening life is beginning on the porches?
Chairs scraping back from tables, a piano being played, matches struck, dishes tinkling — all showing families settling into their nightly porch routine.
What does Douglas’s father teach him about days and senses during their trip to the forest?
He explains that some days are for smelling, some for hearing, some for touching, and some for feeling everything at once — helping Douglas understand why the day is “special.”
Why does the front-porch swing ritual matter to the whole neighborhood?
It brings together family, neighbors, generations, marking summer evenings.
How does Tom imagine night being created?
Shadows crawling out from under five billion trees.
When the text says the Earth is ‘hurtling down the pit of space,’ what does “hurtling” mean?
Moving extremely fast, creating a sense of fear or dizziness.
Why does Tom and Mother start to worry later in the evening?
Douglas doesn’t return home, and he doesn’t answer when Mom calls.