JUSTIN
a nice thing to say about someone
compliment
totally unaware
oblivious
What is Jemeal's mom's occupation?
Nurse
Who is the narrator of
The Big Nothing?
Justin Riggs
to grow bigger and bigger -
When music does this, it sounds dramatic, like something important is about to happen.
swells
falling back into something
relaps
What does Justin carry around in his pocket, to remind him of Jack - the first few weeks that he is gone?
Dad's cuff links
"moving it from pocket to pocket" (8)
(11)
Leroy helped Justing do what?
write a check
What book is Justin reading in English class with Mr. Butler, when Justin fades into the Big Nothing while gazing at Jemmie's neck, realizing he has feelings for her?
Romeo & Juliet (pg 41)
strong beliefs - some people have strong beliefs about the war.
conviction
Ben's family has anti-war convictions.
never having happened before
unprecedented
What does Justin's mom like to do in her spare time?
Watch old movies like Cassablanca, African Queen, and Gone with the Wind.
Who is Marvin?
Nana Grace's deceased husband
Justin hides bills from his mom. He speciailly said that hiding the MasterCard bill is like "hiding a bomb under the cat." (81) What does he mean and what specifically about the MasterCard bill needed to be hid.
MasterCard had many charges from fancy Atlanta, GA restaurants (not typical business meetings). Justin thinks mom will become even more upset realizing that Dad must not have been alone, to have such high dinner bills.
never having happened before
"Me, awake at six fourty-three on a Saturday?" (50)
unprecedented
What school does Justin attend?
Monroe Middle School
Where does Justin go to escape?
Duane's bedroom
Who is Cass? What is her role in the book?
Ben's girlfriend
Jemmie's best friend
What are 3 specific pieces of evidence that showed the reader that Justin wanted to be more than "just friends with Jemmie?"
p52 - Justin is thinking about what PJs Jemmie is wearing
p71 - Justin bites a cookie, right where Jemmie bit it, noticing the teeth marks she left in the cookie, deliberately eating Jemmie's spit.
What means - difficult to understand?
inscrutable
"Understand girls? ... No way. They're inscrutable."(82)
Explain the relationship between Justin's emotions and the keys on the piano?
"All I have to do to make the chord cheerful as 'Happy Birthday to you' is slide my middle finger off the black key and onto the white again. Happy and sad are that close together."(70)
"I shift my finger back to the white key, I realize that I'm not down. I'm not even worried."(57)
What did Kathy and Justin do while watching the President deliver the State of the Union Address?
Every time the President spoke about something OTHER THAN Iraq, they would shoot a popcorn missle at the President's face (on the TV).
"For each topic that he brings up that isn't Iraq, the prez takes another hit. Ping."(88)
What was the first movie that Justin went to see with Ben, Cass and Jemmie - when he was only invited because Cass couldn't go on a date alone?
Lord of the Rings (29)
How does Justin handle most conflict that arises?
binge eating
Pachadryms are talked about twice in The Big Nothing. Explain the two scenarios.
1- dad refers to mom as an "elephant balanced on golf tees" (pg 45)
2 - at the movies with Jemmie (fingers)