Buck & Dani
What was the one rule Will learned after Dani's death?
Rule #1: No Crying
Uncle Mark began selling drugs to raise money to buy what?
a new camera
What was Shawn getting when he was murdered?
eczema soap
What could a gun symbolize in the context of this book?
Answers will vary, but may include:
-violence
-death
-Shawn, Buck, and/or Will
Without looking at the book, what were the last two words?
"You coming?"
What is 1 of the items that Buck was known to rob?
-money
-sneakers
-jewelry
Who did Mikey Holloman kill?
Gee
What was Frick's assignment?
to rob Buck
Write the citation for the quote using the information provided:
"This is the man who murdered me."
Author: Jason Reynolds
Page Number: 244
(Reynolds 244)
-Will lives on the 8th floor
-Dani was 8 yrs old when she died
Answers may vary, but need to include something about the following:
-Because Buck was killed, Shawn then had to follow Rule #3
-Will is using Buck's gun to follow through with Rule #3
-In the elevator, Buck is challenging Will, and his ability to follow through with Rule #3
What did Uncle Mark mean when he said "It's never the end" (Reynolds 192)?
That the cycle of violence will never end and is continuous; it is hard to break/cannot be broken
What did Shawn do that Will was surprised to learn about from one of the ghosts in the elevator?
Get revenge and kill Frick
What is 1 theme of the book?
Answers will vary, but may include:
-Revenge is a violent and endless cycle
-Grief can impact our decision-making abilities
-Violence can negatively shape and influence a community
-Traumatic events can lead to a loss of innocence
Shawn used it to kill Frick
How did Dani impact Will's thought process in regard to Rule #3?
By questioning him, she made him feel confused and at odds with whether or not he should follow through and kill Riggs
How does the character of Mikey Holloman prove that the cycle of violence can impact families?
Answers will vary, but may include:
-Will & Shawn lost their dad due to the cycle of violence
-Mikey got revenge, and so did his son, Shawn, and now Will is thinking of doing the same, showing it can run in families
-Will and Shawn's mom was devastated when she lost her husband to the cycle of violence
-Mikey only continued the cycle of violence because his brother was killed
What rules does Shawn break in the elevator?
Rule #1: No Crying
What could the elevator symbolize in the context of this book?
Answers will vary, but may include:
-Will feeling trapped & being suffocated by his circumstances and decisions
-a journey through grief and path towards revenge
-the journey towards death
What could the cigarette smoke represent and symbolize?
Answers will vary, but may include:
-Buck
-Will's confusion about whether or not he should seek revenge
-clouded judgement due to the pressure to follow the rules and/or grief
Buck was very friendly with Frick in the elevator, even though Frick was the one who murdered him. What could this interaction show and reveal about either Buck or the rules?
-Buck & Frick were not enemies before the killing, so there were no hostile feelings
-helps to represent the cycle of violence and how the rules of the street are respected
-street life is well respected, as shown through Buck understanding Frick's motives for even wanting to rob him
Why did Mikey Holloman hold the gun to Will's head in the elevator?
Answers will vary, but may include:
-to show Will what would happen to him if he got revenge
-to show Will what Riggs would feel if he got revenge
-to show Will what it feels like to be a victim
What does Shawn still being in the clothes he was murdered in, crying, and not speaking to Will BEST show?
A. The reality of the rules & the unavoidable fate for those who live on the streets
B. The devastating reality of violence & distance created by death
C. The pain that grief can cause family members
B. the devastating reality of violence & distance created by death
What could the 3 rules symbolize in the context of this book?
The toxic cycle of grief and violence
How long was Will in the elevator?
68 seconds (9:08:02-9:09:09)