Joseph tells Jack that he has met Jay Perkins and his friends before. Was he being
literal (serious) or figurative? How can you tell that he is prepared to handle trouble if it occurs? Use examples from the story and your own interpretations to answer the prompt (Chapter 3).
Question 19
19.
There are many preconceived ideas, or stereotypes, about Joseph as we start reading the novel. What labels do you think have been applied to him by the different characters (family, bus driver, vice principal) and how have these labels impacted Joseph's character? List at least 3 labels that have been given to Joseph by other people and how those labels affect Joseph mentally/emotionally. Support your answer with proof and examples from the story.
Question 20
20.
Mr. Canton tells Jack, “I respect your parents. I really do. They’re trying to make a difference in this world, bringing kids like Joseph Brook into a normal family. But kids like Joseph Brook aren’t always normal, see? They act the way they do because their brains work differently. They don’t think like you and I think. So they can do things…”
What do you think he means by this statement? Do you agree with him? Will Joseph be a negative influence on Jack? Consider the fact that Jack has already gotten in trouble twice, just by being around Joseph. Support your answers with proof and examples from the story.
Which of the following words best describes how Joseph acted when he first arrived to live with Jack's family?
A) Outgoing
B) Welcoming
C) Appreciative
D) Reserved (shy)
Which of the following quotes from the story proves that your answer to #1 is correct?
A) "He didn't say a thing when he got out of Mrs. Stroud's car. He wouldn't let my mother hug him. He wouldn't shake my father's hand. And when I brought him up to our room, he threw his stuff on the top bunk and climbed up and still didn't say anything."
B) "He looked like a regular eighth-grade kid at Eastham Middle School. Black eyes, black hair almost over his eyes, a little less than middle for height, a little less than middle for weight, sort of middle for everything else."
C) "He really could have been any other eighth-grade kid at Eastham Middle School. Except he had a daughter."
D) "...Joseph stood with his back against the barn wall with his hands up, and even though he usually didn't look at anyone he was looking at us and breathing fast and hard, like there wasn't enough air in the whole wide world to breathe!"
How does Joseph's time at Stone Mountain impact his character (personality)?
A) Joseph has learned from his trauma and the events that happened to him; he now accepts his past events and is ready to start fresh on the farm with Jack's family
B) The events that occurred at Stone Mountain have directly impacted Joseph; he has a hard time being comfortable around other people and is quiet and somewhat distant when he arrives to the farm to live with Jack's family
C) The time spent at Stone Mountain has allowed Joseph to develop a deeper and closer relationship with his own father, who he sees and spends time with on a regular basis
D) Joseph's time at Stone Mountain did not really affect his personality. He is still the same person that he was before, especially since now he gets to see his baby on a regular basis
What role does Mrs. Stroud play in the novel?
A) She is Joseph's former foster mom
B) She is Joseph's case worker (social worker)
C) She is Joseph's aunt
D) She is Jack's mother
Which of the following quotes from the story proves that Mrs. Stroud may be a little cautious of Jack's family becoming a foster family for Joseph? Select ALL that apply:
A) "'He's not very big on meatloaf either," said Mrs. Stroud, and she closed the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services folder."
B) "'Before you agree to have Joseph come live with you," Mrs. Stroud said, "there are one or two things you ought to understand.'"
C) "Mrs. Stroud handed the folder to my mother. "Mrs. Hurd, I'll leave this with you. Read it, and then you can decide. Call me in a few days if..."
D) "Two days later, on Friday, Mrs. Stroud brought Joseph home. He looked like a regular eighth-grade kid at Eastham Middle School. Black eyes, black hair almost over his eyes, a little less than middle for height, a little less than middle for weight, sort of middle for everything else."
E) "He won't talk about what happened to him there. But since he left Stone Mountain, he won't wear anything orange."
Why do Joseph and Jack decide that they are going to walk to school instead of going on the bus?
A) They want to be able to talk on the way to school without anyone listening to their conversations
B) Mr. Haskell made a rude comment to Joseph about having a daughter
C) Jack suggests walking to help Joseph see more of the town
D) Joseph tells Jack that he would be more comfortable walking than taking the school bus with the other students
Which of the following character traits BESTdescribes Mr. Haskell, the bus driver?
A) Honest
B) Humble
C) Mature
D) Judgemental
Which of the following quotes from the story prove that your response to #7 is correct?
A) "But that morning I got on and Joseph got on behind me and Mr. Haskell looked past me and said, 'You're that kid that has a kid,' and Joseph stopped dead on the bus steps. 'I couldn't believe it when Mr. Canton told us. Aren't you a little young?'"
B) "Hey, if you want to walk, it's no skin off my nose. Two miles, that way."
C) "So you shut up and go sit down and the bus bumps over to Eastham Middle."
D) "Mr. Haskell watched him in the mirror the whole time. Then he turned back to us. 'I hear your boy had some trouble yesterday,' said Mr. Haskell."
Which of the following sets of character traits describe Mr. Canton in the story?
A) Uptight, serious, and judgemental
B) Forgiving, understanding, and serious
C) Nurturing, strict, and loving
D) Compassionate, argumentative, serious
Which of the following quotes from the story prove that your response to #9 is correct? Select ALL that apply:
A) "Then Mr. Canton walked by. He told Joseph to put the book away. He wasn't here to read or play games, you know. He was here to work. And you never knew when there might be an important errand to run."
B) "Mr. Canton drove us home. When we stopped, he told us he'd be talking to us about this during fifth-period Office Duty."
C) "Joseph, you come with me and I'll go over your schedule. You do have a schedule, you know."
D) "But kids like Joseph Brook aren't always normal, see? They act the way they do because their brains work differently. They don't think like you and I think. So they can do things..."
E) "But they were still careful. I guess it was enough that once, Joseph tried to kill his teacher. That would make a teacher wish Joseph wasn't at Eastham Middle."
When Joseph ventures out onto the ice, Jack begins to panic. He says this word that he thinks will make Joseph stop and re-think his decision:
A) "Jupiter!"
B) "Maddie!"
C) "Stop!"
D) "Joseph!"
When Jack asks Joseph why he went out onto the ice, Joseph replies
A) he went out on the ice because he wanted to do something fun and rebellious
B) he said it was a spur of the moment decision
C) he did it because Maddie liked to skate
D) he thought he saw a dog out on the ice and wanted to try to save it
What academic subject does Joseph excel in?
A) Math
B) Language Arts
C) Art
D) Science
Which of the following sets of character traits best describe Jack?
A) Kind and supportive
B) Humble and jealous
C) Sarcastic and uptight
D) Quiet and outgoing
Which of the following scenes from the novel best proves that you response to #14 is correct? Select ALL that apply:
A) Jack tries to warn Joseph to stay away from the 8th grade boys that want to beat him up
B) Jack helps Joseph with his math homework
C) Jack gets off of the school bus to walk to school with Joseph
D) Jack teaches Joseph how to throw a rock properly
E) Jack goes out onto the Alliance River to help save Joseph
Based on what we've read in the novel, you can infer that Mr. Canton's opinion about Joseph is (select ALL that apply):
A) that Mr. Canton thinks that Joseph has the potential to become a good student
B) that Mr. Canton believes that Joseph is a troubled teen who cannot rise above his difficult past
C) that Mr. Canton stereotypes Joseph based on the information that he learns about him
D) that Mr. Canton is not willing to get to know Joseph in order to determine if he is a good person
E) that Mr. Canton believes that Joseph can become a better person, as long as he continues going to counseling
F) Mr. Canton wants to try to get to know Joseph better so he can become a mentor for him
How does Coach Swieteck try to keep Joseph away from the other 8th grade boys who want to beat him up?
A) He tells Joseph to clean up the mats after gym class while the other boys go to the locker room
B) He tells the 8th grade boys to help clean up the mats after gym class while Joseph goes to the locker room
C) He is able to get the guidance counselor to put Joseph into another PE class
D) Instead of having PE, Joseph starts to take extra math classes with Mr. D'Ulney