Chapters 11 & 12
As Charlie was walking home from the beach, what did he start to notice that seemed strange to him?
Everything seemed normal.
Charlie remembered Grandpa telling him about the battle of San Jacinto. What was so important about that battle?
That was the battle that won the Revolution and made Texas its own country for a few years before it became an American state in 1845.
Charlie heard Mr. Potts yelling at Gordon and realized those were the same words that Gordon used when he was picking on him. What were those words?
"Stop your blubbering. You’re so weak."
What piece of advice from Harry Houdini did Charlie remember when he was trapped under water by a water around his leg?
“One must not panic or struggle when trying to get free from a rope…”
In this story, what is a privy? (Ch. 11)
An outdoor bathroom.
Why didn't Papa look shocked when Charlie told him about the huge waves and the pagoda being gone?
Papa said that every few years a big storm hit and caused some damage, but the town would just rebuild.
Why did Papa finally believe Charlie that there was a hurricane hitting the town?
A chunk of plaster fell from the ceiling when the house shook and he went out and tasted the salty water for himself.
Charlie thought he might see if Gordon was okay after his father yelled at him. What made Charlie rethink that thought?
He saw his face in the mirror with his hurt lip and remembered how Gordon laughed at him.
Whose voice did Charlie hear whispering “You are strong” at the end of Chapter 17?
His own.
What does bellowed mean? (Ch. 13)
To yell or shout
Papa told Charlie about a huge storm that scared him when he was 17. What year did that storm hit?
1886
Where did Charlie and his family go for safety from the hurricane?
To Gordon Potts’s house which was built like a fortress and high off the ground.
What happened to Charlie at the end of Chapter 15?
The winds were so strong that the wall behind him cracked and was gone. Charlie was pulled into the storm.
What thought kept popping into Charlie’s head as he and Gordon were walking throught the wreakage the next day?
Impossible.
What thought/prayer did Charlie keep saying as they were on their raft? (Ch. 18)
“Please. Please let them be safe.”
What reason did Papa give for hundreds of frogs coming out the the ground?
The ground was really wet from the storm and they were trying to get off the ground.
How did Charlie calm Lulu down when they heard thunder?
He told her that it was fairies building a rainbow.
What made things more difficult as Charlie was being tossed around by the waves?
There was wreckage everywhere and it was banging into him and he had to try to keep pushing it away.
What is Charlie’s magician name?
Charles the Great.
How did Charlie and Gordon stay safe throughout the night of the storm? (Ch. 17)
They found a huge tree and clung to it.
How did Charlie know that the water was coming from the gulf and not the sky?
He dipped his finger in the water and tasted it. It was salty.
What happened that made Charlie think about all the people trapped outside in the hurricane?
A woman came through the door soaking wet, with blood dripping down her face.
How did Charlie and Gordon stay above the water during the hurricane?
At first they used a wooden door as a raft and then a roof.
What kind of scars did Charlie have from the hurricane?
Physical scars (his body was covered with jagged lines, puckers, and dents. He also had a big scar on his chin). Emotional scars (memories of that day often swirled in his mind as well as nightmares).
What does the word detest mean? (Ch. 15)