Some Writer – The Story of EB White by Melissa Sweet

In which book…

1. does a character’s father recite limericks at dinner? Pg. 22. does a principal call a different student to the platform to read

aloud to the assembly? Pgs. 2 &33. does a character receive a green-and-canvas Old Town canoe on

his 11th birthday? Pg. 124. do two friends spend their summer days fishing, canoeing, and

swimming? Pg 185. does a character win a literary prize for a poem? Pg 206. does a character say the best part of high school was getting to

and fro on his bicycle? Pg 237. does a character have a professor that teaches in such a way one

of his students becomes “transported” back centuries? Pg 288. does a character buy a Model T roadster and name it Hotspur?

Pg. 309. does a character “slip moodily” out of the building by way of a fire

escape and hide in a restaurant until his visitor goes away? Pg 4210. does a character scan newspapers and magazines for

mistakes, typos, and blunders? Pg. 4411. was a character so happy that his wife was having a baby he

expressed his joy by having his “dog” write her a letter? Pg 4812. does a character keep his job during the Great Depression?

Pg 5013. was a character’s first boat named Flounder? Pg 5614. does the death of a pig cause a character to write a book

about animals? Pg. 80

15. does a character compare himself with the Wright Brothers. Pg 82

16. does a character think a misspelled word is an abomination? Pg 100

17. does a character give a valuable essay on the nature and beauty of brevity in 63 words? Pg 102

18. does a character suggest scissors be brought into play to stir up writing? Pg 107

19. does a character write, “I have lost the one thing that seemed to make any sense in my life, and I feel like a child lost at Coney Island? Pg 122

20. does a character write, “When I want some fun, I don’t write, I go sailing?” Pg 120

Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

In which book….

1. does a character bet that a nickel would buy a good lunch? Pg. 42. does a character think their town looks like a tired black and white

movie? Pg. 83. does a dog remind a character of Popeye’s girlfriend Olive Oyl? Pg

134. are giant sea turtles kept like a herd of cows? Pg. 145. is the best sight in the world a pair of worn, muddy shoes sitting on

the front porch? Pg. 166. did a character love to snack on fritters made of black-eyed peas

and deep-fried in oil? Pg 227. does a gang sit on a street and watch their toenails grow? Pg 28

8. is a character’s favorite movie star Baby LeRoy? Pg 299. does a character puke all over another character’s feet? Pg. 3610. is someone’s nickname “Bring back my hammer”? pg. 4011. does a character give up his picture money to buy another

character some worm syrup? Pg. 4112. does a character babysit a sibling with a girdle? Pg. 4713. is a character worried about getting his younger brother arrested

for rum-running? Pg. 5014. does a character seem out of place because he is wearing a pair of

gloves? Pg. 52/5315. does a character call a group of firefighters heroes because they

never close their doors even when they don’t get paid? Pg 6116. do characters receive tips in the form of cookies or homemade

candy? Pg. 6017. does a character make up a “secret” formula of cornstarch and

water to soothe a baby’s rash? Pg. 6318. does a character try to cure a sore throat with a concoction made

from horseradish? Pg. 8719. does a character use a letter from his father when he goes to the

“outhouse”? pg. 11320. does a character get new shoes but forget he doesn’t have socks

to wear with them? Pg. 118

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Wish by Barbara O’Conner

In which book…

1. does a character inherit their fiery red temper from their father? Pg. 4

2. does a character send laser thoughts zipping and zapping around the bus? Pg. 9

3. does a character find a penny, hurl it as far as possible, and make a wish before it touches the ground? Pg. 13

4. does a character poke another character with a pencil because he poked his thumb through their sandwich? Pg. 26

5. does a character look like a fancy rich banker except for the garden dirt under their fingernails and his hair squished up flat from a baseball cap? Pg. 36

6. does a character tell another character that if you share your troubles with someone else they get smaller? Pg. 47

7. do characters spend the summer making yarn bracelets, so they can buy fish for their aquarium? Pg. 60

8. do characters make a garden of flowers to show their many blessings? Pg. 64

9. does a character hold onto their mad feelings all morning? Pg. 6810. does a character give thanks for nearly everything under the

sun including the deviled eggs on the plate in front of him? Pg 7311. does a character say “rutabaga” every time they get the

urge to draw on the wall? Pg. 7912. does a character want to draw a map to help their mother

find her way back to being a mama? Pg. 9213. does a character leave a trail of bologna the same as Hansel

and Gretel leave bread crumbs? Pg. 10014. does the mayor shoot out peoples tires if they parked in

front of Town Hall? Pg. 105

15. does a character sit on the edge of the creek and have a pity party? Pg. 127

16. is a character’s favorite food grits with cheese and bacon? Pg. 129

17. does a character tell another that you don’t judge people by the mistakes they make, but you judge them by how they fix those mistakes? Pg. 133

18. does a character put a tarp in the back of a pickup and fill it with water so kids can sit in it? Pg. 145

19. did a character sing to another character so they couldn’t hear their parents arguing? Pg. 160

20. did a character have to strip down naked in the yard because they had a couple of ticks on them? Pg. 184

I Am Drums by Mike Grosso

1. does a character have a computer desk with no computer? Pg. 122. does a character have trouble sleeping because they keep hearing

giant pounding rhythms in their head? Pg. 183. does a character tell another they tried a trumpet once, but it just

sounded like bad gas? Pg. 264. does a character get nervous in crowded places, especially the

lunch table? Pg. 325. does a character never know exactly what kind of mood their dad

will be in? pg. 376. does a trip to the teacher’s office create chaos in a classroom?

Pg. 43

7. is getting caught crying at school worse then crying at school? Pg. 48

8. does a character tell another character to settle down, because losing the music department isn’t the end of the world? Pg. 52

9. does a character tell another character to just call him the “Idea Man”? pg. 59

10. does a character practice asking her dad to use the lawn mower in the mirror? Pg. 63

11. does a character break the tv remote by spilling pasta gravy on it? Pg. 64

12. does a character tell another that she is staring at a house like it is a chocolate cake? Pg. 68

13. does a character tell another character they are 83 and not afraid of trouble? Pg. 71

14. does a character tell another they are willing to take on a student, but not an ego? Pg. 76

15. does the word suspended scare a character to death? Pg. 85

16. does a character tell another “the student who does not surpass their teacher has failed him?” pg. 88

17. is the cure for nervousness a deep breath? Pg. 9018. does a character tell another, “You’re not terrible, you’re

undisciplined?” pg. 9319. is a character told “the boring stuff is often the most

important?” pg. 9620. does a character name the sun the “Orb of Death” pg. 109

The Hero Two Doors Down by Sharon Robinson

In which book…

1. does a character say, “When all people, regardless of race or religion, are welcomed in all parts of New York City, from Brooklyn to Manhattan, then we’ll defeat discrimination?” Pg. 4

2. does a character tell another character that saying “I love you” no longer comes easily? Pg. 5

3. was the name Branch Rickey well know by a character? Pg. 114. does a school prank cause a teacher to attempt a home visit? Pg

175. does missing ten days of school have a character missing

everything about school? Pg. 246. does a family flee Russia hoping to find freedom to practice their

religion? Pg. 367. does a mom tell her daughter, “some of our neighbors are afraid

of change?” pg. 408. does a character have to wait to see who is moving into the top

floor of the house down the street? Pg. 449. does a secret just about drive a character crazy? Pg. 5010. does a character think his dad is pulling an early April Fool’s

joke on him? Pg. 5211. does a character make a pot roast to welcome a new family

to the neighborhood? Pg. 4912. does a character rehearse his first conversation he will have

with another character? Pg. 7313. does a character become speechless when he meets his

neighbor? Pg. 7814. does the song “Three Blind Mice” cause a crowd to erupt

with laughter? Pg. 84

15. do a couple of characters play “stoopball”? pg. 8916. has a character been arrested for sitting in the wrong seat?

Pg. 9817. does getting stung by a bee cause a character to get into a

fight? Pg. 10518. does a character get sent to the principal’s office because he

bloodied a classmate’s nose? Pg. 13719. does the thought of getting 8 gifts make a character giddy?

Pg. 14620. does a character not even realize that the next day was

Christmas? Pg. 169

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

1. does a character ask another character if they are off on an adventure? Pg. 7

2. does a character tell another that “The Boy Mechanic” is a little dry but very instructive? Pg. 17

3. does a character see buildings with logs sticking out of the sides like Abe Lincoln’s cabin? Pg. 26

4. is a character glad there are rules because you know what to expect? Pg. 29

5. can a character tell no one about where they live, who they live with, or what they see or hear? Pg. 29

6. do characters play a game that started over a year ago? Pg. 437. does a character join a group so she can get to know other

people? Pg. 478. do the most important people live in Bathtub Row? Pg. 51

9. does a character read the quote, “Music is the hidden arithmetic of the soul, which does not know that it deals with numbers. Music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting,” to another character? Pg 54

10. does a character pretend the lumps given to her are cool presents? Pg. 80

11. does a character question getting to eat steak every week, when other people may not even get hamburger meat? Pg. 81

12. does a character tell another that “Greek letters mean one thing when you are talking Greek, and something else if you are talking math?” Pg. 83

13. does a character love the smell of pencil shavings as they curl down from the sharpener? Pg. 93

14. does a character teach another calculus to help with a clock’s gears? Pg. 98

15. does a character’s bedroom look like Rube Goldberg’s engineering lab? Pg. 99

16. does a character use coupons to gas up their car? Pg. 10617. does a character pick up a rock called tuff? Pg.118. does a character tell another not to worry “cause they never

colored outside the lines?” pg. 14719. does a character “sneeze” and cause another character to

drop what she was carrying? Pg. 15620. is a character’s nickname “Truck”? pg. 222

The First Last Day by Dorian Cirrone

In which book…..

1. is a character always the shortest 12-year-old in the room? Pg. 22. does a character get the nickname Acid Rain Adams? Pg. 53. does a character keep a “cow” costume in their closet? Pg. 54. do characters make brownies everyday to help make buyers like

their house better? Pg. 115. does a character sketch her rock collection because she won’t be

able to take the rocks with her? 136. does a character go all health foodie on her family? Pg. 157. is a middle school behavior specialist good at making rules? Pg.

178. does a character offer to buy another character a souvenir of soup

or applesauce? Pg. 239. does a red scarf magically end up in a character’s backpack? Pg.

25 10. is the spice Rosemary the secret ingredient in a pot of

Ragout? Pg. 3311. does a character wish for a mulligan of my last day of

summer? Pg. 3912. does a character think someone else had a wish fulfillment

dream? Pg. 4613. does a character come to the conclusion that events look

different, depending on where the viewer is standing? Pg. 6114. does a character tell another that “at my age I am at the

doctor’s office more times a year than I can count?” pg. 7315. does a character secretly dial 911 to try and help save

someone’s life? Pg. 7616. does a character think Ragout every night is a small price to

pay for a never- ending summer? Pg. 80

17. does a character tell another character they are beginning to “like this moo-squerade”? pg. 90

18. does a character feel like a piece of fruit that is rotten on the inside, but still smooth and perfect on the outside? Pg. 97

19. does a character never tell a lie until she found a paint set? Pg. 104

20. does a character tell another character about the “many worlds theory”? pg. 139

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

In which book……

1. does a character have a dream about wolves chasing him? Pg. 162. does a character insist his CB radio stay on all night? Pg. 173. did a character’s mother give them a box with a wolf engraved on

the top? Pg. 204. does a character have the nickname “Turtle” because they are so

quiet? Pg. 255. is the quote, “we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking

at the stars,” echoing in a character’s mind? 276. does a character write the word HELP after seeing a strange man

in their yard? Pg. 49 (picture)7. does a character make a wish about his mom, even though he

knows it will never come true? Pg 578. does a character climb out a window to avoid another character?

Pg. 58 (picture)9. does a character find a tin coffee can with money in it? Pg. 85

10. would a character hide in a closet and hope his mom would find him? Pg. 94

11. did a character find a book that was about the history of museums in a dresser drawer? 96

12. does a character think he might be making a museum about Gunflint Lake? Pg. 99

13. does a character use a coat as protection from a terrible rain storm? Pg. 126

14. does a character wake up on a bus all by himself? Pg. 22715. does a character feel as if the cover of their social studies

book had come to life as they see people of all colors? Pg. 26416. does a lady on roller-skates accidently knock a character

over? Pg 26517. does a building look like a castle from a fairy tale? 31118. does a character look in the mirror and for a second feels

like a stranger is looking back? Pg. 32819. does a character wonder if you could still make a wish on a

shooting star even after it had fallen to Earth? Pg. 34520. does a character have to write a story down in order to tell

it? Pg. 544

Pie by Sarah Weeks

In which book……

1. was a character hard at work while everyone else in town was still snoring in bed? Pg. 3

2. Do characters pay for items with ingredients and not money? Pg. 4

3. Was a towns population 162 the summer of 1955? Pg. 7

4. Does a character have a nose as red as Rudolph’s and insides that felt like Swiss cheese, limp and full of holes? Pg. 13

5. Does a character hate talking to reporters almost as much as they hate giving speeches? Pg. 16

6. Does a character have an oily glistening quality to her skin that reminds another character of a snake? 18

7. Does a character tell another character, “Its important to be grateful for the gifts we do have?” pg. 21

8. Does a character keep their medals under their bed “so they won’t have to look at them?” pg. 27

9. Does a character give a heartfelt acceptance speech of four words? Pg. 29

10. Is a pet named after vegetable shortening? Pg. 3411. Does a character escape a bedroom through an open

window and down a beautiful old elm tree? Pg. 5212. Does a character ask another character “if they had

examined the scene of the crime?” pg. 6413. Does a character offer another character a peanut butter

and jelly sandwich as a thank you for their help in finding their pet? Pg. 67

14. Does a character, as a rule, not like boys very much? Pg. 7615. Does a character see something shiny under a radiator in

their room? Pg . 7716. Does a character tell another character that pirates wear

earrings too? Pg. 7817. Does a character promise another character if they hear

another word about keys or cats or cockamamie ideas their head

would jump right off their neck and fly around the room like a bald eagle? Pg. 83

18. Does a character tell another character that she wanted to be a squirrel more than anything in the world? Pg. 87

19. Does the idea of kissing any boy make them want to throw up? Pg. 90

20. Does a character tell another character they don’t know what cahoots means? Pg. 98

The Forgetting Machine by Pete Hautman

In which book……

1. Does a character have more paper books then hairs on his head? Pg. 1

2. Is a character’s password written on a sticky note and stuck to their monitor? Pg. 4

3. is a character be forced to deal with a real human being by the name of Olivia Pfleuger? Pg. 8

4. is a character reminded of a “gum” incident the minute she walks into the town library? Pg. 9

5. do characters remind another character of salt and pepper shakers? Pg. 14

6. does a character tell another character that pixels on a screen can never replace ink on a page? Pg. 21

7. does a character write an essay for English class in pig latin? Pg. 27

8. does a character compare the smell of a man’s classic aftershave to a cleaning product? Pg. 31

9. is the word REMEMBER and acronym for “Really excellent memory enhancement method by Earnest Rausch? Pg. 32

10. is a character followed home by Mr. Peebles? Pg. 3411. do all the characters in a book change from animals to

children? Pg. 4612. was an old-fashioned email address the only contact

information a character had for a tutor? Pg. 6713. was watching a character at his computer like watching a

movie in fast motion? Pg. 7614. is a character disappointed because he can’t show off his

Open Anything Watch? Pg. 7915. will a character “talk your ears off” if you get him started on

the Sphinx? Pg. 8616. does a character’s bed look like something out of a virtual

reality set? Pg. 9017. does going on a secret reconnaissance mission require a

new look? Pg. 100 18. is a character sure their red hair looks like a red matador’s

cape to an irritable 2,000 lb. bull? Pg. 11619. does a goat tell a character they like cookies? Pg. 12220. does a character give a dog credit for inventing Velcro? Pg.

140

The Secrets of Hexbridge Castle by Gabrielle Kent

In which book…….

1. Do a couple of class troublemakers hit a character in the head with a coke can? Pg. 8

2. Is a character spied upon by a raven? Pg. 6

3. Does a cat bring a strange envelope to a character? Pg. 164. Does a character have a tuna, sprout, and pickled-egg sandwich

for breakfast? Pg. 185. Do characters scour charity shops for new clothes? Pg. 196. Are boiled sweets provided to a character to ease discomfort they

may feel in their ears during a journey? Pg. 217. Do characters sign in with their thumb print? Pg. 268. Is a character given a deal that seems to good to be true? Pg. 349. Is a character given a talisman and told to wear it at all times? Pg.

3610. Does a character take a folder while visions of thrones,

dungeons, and secret passages are swimming through their head? Pg. 38

11. Does the scent of violet cologne and peppermints cause a character to remember their grandmother? Pg. 45

12. Does a character tell another that he is not sure if there is enough room in their brain for everything they want to know? Pg. 48

13. Does a character chase another character just because they opened the door for them? Pg. 51

14. Does a character tell another that they “really do ask the most mundane questions?” pg. 62

15. Was a character’s favorite room the Great Hall with its gigantic table, huge chandelier, and intricately carved beams? Pg. 64

16. Does a character try to hide a set of plans under their cardigan? Pg. 90

17. Does a character tell another “Well then, young lad. I have been asleep too long and could do with getting the wind through my fur. Since you woke me, you can decide where we’re going?” pg. 106

18. does a character have to cut a soccer ball into exactly a thousand pieces with a pair of blunt scissors? Pg. 121

19. does a character finally fall asleep only to have rules, regulations, and chestnuts swimming through his mind? Pg. 137

20. does a character ask another to “cover for me when they do roll call,” while they look for another character? Pg. 207

__________________________________________________________

Arrow Over the Door by Joseph Bruchac

In which book…

1. does a character use an eye stone to see into the heart of things? Pg. 12

2. Does a boy look into a pool only to see a man in the reflection? Pg. 22

3. Does a character almost get shot because of a pig? Pg. 314. Was it the job of an uncle to show the nephew the right way to

live? Pg. 375. Is a character’s only memories of his father a smile and the sound

of his voice telling stories about the Great Hare? Pg. 416. Does a character tell another, “we will do what we always do. We

shall treat all with charity and trust in the Truth of God which changes naught?” pg. 47

7. Does a character tell another, “an open door may lead a man to open his heart?” pg. 52

8. Was a character given the task of scouting the enemy? Pg. 539. Could one character tell that another would be a good friend or a

dangerous enemy? Pg. 5510. Does a character think that what he had not seen was

stranger then what he had seen? Pg. 5611. Does a character tell another, “we must spend double the

time in listening that we spend in speech?” pg. 6312. Does a character like another just from a look on his face?

Pg. 6913. Had a character been told that other characters spoke so

much that they often forget how to hear? Pg. 7214. Does a character ask his host for a hammer and two nails?

Pg. 7615. Do characters keep a close eye on their livestock, and no

animals were left out in the fields at night? Pg. 2316. Does it seem like everyone was at war with everyone else?

Pg. 4

Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park

In which book…..

1. Do characters insist on playing outside because of a strong odor in a character’s home? Pg. 2

2. Do character’s join The Wiggle Club? Pg. 63. Does a character email instead of call another character when

they get excited about something? Pg. 94. Is a character’s favorite theory to read stuff right before you go to

bed, so you will remember it better? Pg. 12

5. Is writing about a character one way an author has of remembering a friend from the past? Pg. 14

6. Is one character in charge of reading and the other character in charge of the hands-on stuff? Pg. 18

7. Is a character supposed to get good grades because both of their grandfathers had been teachers? Pg. 22

8. Does a character tell another that whoever invented exponents must have been really lazy or really impatient? Pg. 32

9. Is a character’s nickname for another character “snotbrain”? pg. 39

10. Does a character make vests for other characters, so they will be easy to see when they are on field trips? Pg 44

11. Do characters over do a class project and get a ton of extra-credit because of it? Pg. 55/56

12. Does a character start to feel like a secret agent working undercover? Pg. 63

13. Does a teacher make a character wish they could have her every year for the rest of your life? Pg. 77

14. does a character’s parents wear their perfect faces when they don’t want people to know what they are thinking? Pg. 84

15. was a character worried about a science test because they hadn’t studied with their partner? Pg. 99

16. does a character work and work for like a half an hour and only make a line about an inch long? Pg. 105

17. do characters substitute a small glass bowl instead of petri dishes? Pg. 120

18. is a character pleased because he reminds others of a hero in a story? Pg. 136

19. did a character like to say the word jambalaya? Pg. 16420. does a character realize that sweet fluffy lambs turn into the

lamb chops they love? Pg. 213

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Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine by Caroline Starr Rose

In which book….

1. Does a character put half his pay in a cigar box his Mama had once used for recipes? Pg. 4

2. Does a character tell another character, “Familiar is what’s easy. It’s brave to leave what you know behind?” pg. 9

3. Does a character look at another’s bucket and say, “You’ll eat fine tonight,” because there were three perch and a smallmouth bass flopping against the sides of the bucket? Pg. 11

4. Does a character know a schemer when they see one, mostly because they are one themselves? Pg. 43

5. does a character offer to do some laundry in exchange for a bunk? Pg. 39

6. does a character feel their mother’s presence as they do laundry? Pg. 44

7. does a customer offer a character some soap to scrub some of her laundry? Pg. 49

8. does a character eat a moldy piece of bread, and thought what my eyes can’t see my belly don’t need to know? Pg. 57

9. does a character scrunch their eyes and wink at the world outside trying to figure out how to see regular now that his glasses were smashed? Pg. 70

10. does a character recognize another character because of a brown coat with a blue patch on one elbow? Pg. 81

11. does a character pull a trick on another character to get the bucket they are sitting on? Pg. 85

12. does a character tell another they would like a whole shelf of books they had never read? Pg. 94

13. does a character think another character needs to watch his tongue? Pg. 98

14. does a character bring a hundred pounds of toilet paper on a trip? Pg. 102

15. is Friday’s the last chance to be lucky? Pg. 10516. does a character feel like a wagon rolled over them and

shattered all their bones? Pg. 11017. do Mounties urge travelers to build their boats long and

strong and sturdy? Pg. 14018. does a character tell another it is an impolite boy who don’t

ask direction from his elders? Pg. 17819. does a character look in a tin and see six of the lightest,

airiest, and prettiest biscuits they had ever seen? Pg. 18720. do characters drink spruce water tea in place of coffee? Pg.

217

________________________________________________________

No Talking by Andrew Clements

In which book………

1. does giving a report cause a character to have a coughing fit? Pg. 4

2. Does a character develop avoidance habits by nodding and smiling, frowning and shrugging, or giving a thumb up or a high five? Pg. 8

3. Does a character have a voice that kind of cuts like a hacksaw? Pg. 12

4. Were teachers a lot nicer then drill sergeants? Pg. 185. Is a cootie by any other name still a cootie? Pg. 196. Does a character give careful orders, set precise goals, and

demanded results from anyone they encountered? Pg. 357. Does a character feel like they are in a scene from a creepy

science fiction movie? Pg. 428. Is dangerous a good way to describe the next few days? Pg. 489. Has a character had a top-secret crush on another character for a

couple of months? Pg. 5110. Does a character think there is nothing better than a good

experiment? Pg. 5411. Does a character remember the “jinx” game they used to

play? Pg. 6312. Does a character decide to use the “divide and conquer”

rule to figure out what is going on? Pg. 6513. Does a character use writing as a means of communicating?

Pg. 73

14. Does losing a contest mean you have to wear a big L on your forehead? Pg. 78

15. Does playing a game cause nothing but frustration in school? Pg. 97

16. Does a character see the special light on other characters faces when understanding happens? Pg. 113

17. Is a character told that words do not need conserving? Pg. 115

18. Is a character asked, “Can normal change?” pg. 11619. Was a discussion like debating with condensed haiku? Pg.

12120. Does a character have a strict diet of only three words? Pg.

141

__________________________________________________________

My Brother is a Superhero by David Solomons

In which book……..

1. has a character always been a bit of a teacher’s pet? Pg. 22. Does a character have to wear “orthotics”? pg. 23. Is the manliest room around a shed? Pg. 44. Was a character as green as the “Hulk” with jealousy? Pg. 65. Do two characters get a lecture on appropriate behavior and sent

out of the kitchen to cool down? Pg. 176. Does a character sport a black hooded sweatshirt over a pair of

black jeans and a pair of grubby gray sneakers? Pg. 367. Does a character’s enthusiasm leak out of him like the air leaking

out of his bike tire? Pg. 39

8. Does a character’s voice croak up and down like a frog tied to a firework? Pg. 47

9. Does a character have on a purple-and-yellow-spotted dress that looks like an outbreak of some nasty disease? Pg. 48

10. Do character’s wince and make a sound like sour milk circling down the drain? Pg. 49

11. Does a character rush head-long into danger like a video game character who knows that even if they slip off the edge of a cliff they will be ok? Pg. 78

12. Does a character reject the idea of pickpocketing because they are not nimble-fingered Victorian street urchin? Pg 87

13. Can a character sense imminent danger by a feeling in their gut? Pg. 101

14. Does a character bound everywhere instead of walk? Pg. 104

15. Is someone given a nickname because they are prehistoric, they walk around with their elbows tucked in, and they roar a lot? Pg. 105

16. Does a character think, “if you want people to understand your book, then why hide other meanings inside it? Pg. 112

17. Do moms have x-ray vision and can see right through their children? Pg. 124

18. Does a character experience a strange telescoping sensation, as if they were standing at the peak of the tallest mountain? Pg. 155

19. Do characters wave their arms and shuffle their feet to tell the story of Heracles? Pg. 170

20. Does a character order six chocolate bars, two bags of chips, and a can of Mountain Dew from a Supersnax machine? Pg 246

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A Long Pitch Home by Natalie Dias Lorenzi

In which book…….

1. Is a character’s favorite cake chocolate malt with fudge frosting? Pg. 2

2. Does a character ask what the word buddy means? Pg. 123. Does a character step down from the terrace onto a carpet of

green grass with not a single patch of dirt or sand? Pg. 134. Is a character going to start baseball camp to learn how to play?

Pg. 295. Does a character reply, “Almost-ten-year-olds are not too young

to understand these things?” pg. 26. Does a character send a kiss into the shadows of the sunrise and

hope it will travel through the airplane window and find its way to another character? Pg. 7

7. Does a character’s stomach feel like it is bobbing on the Arabian Sea? Pg. 19

8. Does a character tell another character, “Of course it is hard; it is something new?” pg. 74

9. Does a character say, “You can’t just make up any old good-luck ritual, you know?” pg. 79

10. Does a character nod their thanks, but their heart is not thankful? Pg. 83

11. Does a character narrow their eyes and tell another character, “Yeah, nepotism?” pg. 87

12. Does a character imagine giving a thumbs up sign at their old school – and a laugh escapes? Pg, 101

13. Does the heat hit a character like a wall when they step outside? Pg. 106

14. Does a character ask another character, “Maybe they can change the rules or something?” pg. 108

15. Does a character say, “Four against one?” “That sounds fair.” before charging the fort? Pg. 163

16. Has a character never heard of “homemade marshmallows”? pg. 164

17. Is a character going to miss ESL class? Pg. 16918. does a character want to ask another character to prom, but

must keep it a secret? Pg. 18719. does a famous athlete help a character? Pg. 22320. does a character take their end-of-year exams on a

computer? Pg. 235

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A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord

In which book….

1. Does a character give another character their lunch to keep them from going to Canada? Pg. 3

2. Does a character take a pork pie to a family they don’t know? Pg. 7

3. Does a character think when something bad is happening to your friend, you should know? Pg. 9

4. Is a character’s worst chore picking up dog poop in the yard? Pg. 36

5. Does a character have no choice but to become a veterinarian? Pg. 38

6. Does a character hold the record for winning the Downeast Blueberry Queen Pageant? Pg. 42

7. Was a character’s mom not afraid to “think” big thoughts? Pg. 438. Does a character say, “Different can be good, it makes you think?”

pg. 469. does a character say, “that’s the problem with winning, People

expect more from you the next time?” pg. 5310. has a character changed so much her friend doesn’t even

know how to talk to them anymore? Pg. 6111. is a character accused of encouraging their kids to leap

before they look? Pg. 6612. is it always weird when a character invites a friend to their

apartment? Pg. 7513. does a character have to sit in the back of a truck in order to

be alone? Pg 7614. are elephants a favorite animal because they are beautiful

and they live as families, and they take care of each other? Pg. 8515. does the beginning of summer always feel like there’s so

much time ahead, but somehow it fills up and flies by? Pg. 9616. does a character always get adding and subtracting fractions

wrong if you have to change the bottom numbers? Pg 9817. does sitting next to a mom feel tingly, weird and nice and

sad, all mixed together? Pg. 10618. can a character carry on several conversations, even in

different tones, all at the same time? Pg. 119

19. does a character always say, “you never know what you can do until you try?” pg. 122

20.