Characters
Who has a messy room with a pink jump rope?
Gen Tanaki
What does Virgil have to do to enter Kaori and Gen Tanaka’s house?
He has to say the secret password. "Venus rises in the west."
What is the "spirit chamber"?
Kaori calls her bedroom the "spirit chamber" because it is where she connects with the spirits.
What does the following quote mean? “Rodents are rodents.”(42)
Kaori doesn't want to see Gulliver.
Who is a psychic and believes there are no coincidences?
Kaori
Why does Virgil's heart thump when Kaori says that she sees Virgil "in a dark place"? (44)
Virgil's second biggest secret is that he's afraid of the dark.
What are 5 things in Kaori's bedroom/ spirit chamber?
her bed, rug, incense table, poster of constellations, and books
Explain the following quote and the word "peculiar": “You have a very peculiar future ahead of you.” (43)
Kaori predicts that Virgil will be in a dark place. Peculiar means out of the ordinary; special.
What do we know about the girl Virgil wants to talk to? (46-49)
She seems smart. Her initials are V.S. The girl's zodiac sign is scorpio.
Why does Virgil struggle to tell Kaori what his problem is? (45-46)
It is top-secret and made him a Grand Failure.
How does the setting affect each character? (Virgil, Kaori, and Gen)
Virgil is worried about Kaori's prediction of darkness. Kaori acts professional. Gen is curious.
Explain the quote: "Darkness was a sightless beast, as far as Virgil was concerned." (45)
This metaphor compares darkness to a blind beast, and it empasizes that Virgil is afraid of the dark.
Who is going to put a friend's business card on the bulletin board at the grocery store?
Virgil
Why is Virgil embarrassed to tell Kaori and Gen what sign Valencia is?
Knowing her sign and her birthday shows that he really likes Valencia.
What mood does the setting create?
a mysterious and fantastical mood
Find a quote in the book that explains what the word "premonition" (46) means.
Virgil says, "But I, uh, kinda have this feeling..."
Who goes grocery shopping on Fridays?
Virgil and Lola
What will Virgil have to do before he meets Kaori next Saturday at 11 a.m.?
bring 5 stones of different sizes
What conflict does this setting create?
Virgil's inner conflict that he didn't talk to VS, and now he is worried about the darkness.
"my parents freak out when I give my name and phone number to random strangers" (50) What does this quote say about Kaori?
She is strong-willed and a bit rebellious because she does what she wants.