Summarize Mr. Steward and Mr. Symthe's takeover of the Clifton school.  Begin with Mr. Steward entering the building with a gun and end with Chester Steward walking his dad outside, at gun point.

Book Report Ideas

-Make several sketches of some of the scenes in the book and label them. 
-Give a sales talk, pretending the students in the class are clerks in a bookstore and you want them to push this book. 
-Write a diary that one of the story’s main characters might have kept before, during, or after the book’s events. Remember that the character’s thoughts and feelings are very important in a diary. 
-Interview a character from your book. Write at least ten questions that will give the character the opportunity to discuss his/her thoughts and feelings about his/her role in the story. However you choose to present your interview is up to you. 
-Dramatize a scene from the book. Write a script and have several rehearsals before presenting it to the class. 
-Write and perform an original song that tells the story of the book. 
-Construct puppets and present a show of one or more interesting parts of the book. 
-Participate with three or four classmates in a television talk show about the book.

Describe Jessie's reactions to her first experience watching television.  Include details of what she viewed in the hospital Visitors Lounge.

Explain the irony Hannah and Jessie discovered concerning their personalities and how they each survived a dangerous experience.

If you were a doctor, what kind of doctor would you be? (examples: children's doctor, veterinarian, eye doctor, dentist) Tell what your job would be like.

Describe Mrs. Tyndale (the lady on the bus).  Include both her good and annoying qualities.  Explain why she was important to Jessie achieving her goal.

Debate Topics

Mattie   vs.    Whitnie:  Dogs are better than cats     Sara    vs.    Kiley:  Candy is good for you
Kira                Ellie                                                       Mikaeli        Quincee

Madi W   vs.   Iz:  Zoos are good     Tony     vs.    Mavrick: Allow long-boarding school?
Makiah           Nicole                         Ally               Bryce

Adam     vs.   Jace: Which is better, Nike or Adidas products?
Jaxon             Michael 
                                                       
Nick     vs.     Danyon:  Should there be recess in Middle School
Brady             Gavynn

In Clifton, Jessie and her family lived a rugged, pioneer life.  Explain how this has been an advantage for her during her escape from Clifton and from Mr. Neely's apartment.

Angie Star 5

1. Angie who always had a backup plan elbowed her brother.
2. Angie calmly asked "Should we go with him or fight?"
3. Before Angie knew what was happening Devin leaped into the air.
4. He caught a rope hanging from a helicopter and Angie grabbed his leg.
5. In a flash the helicopter lifted them to safety on the other side of the Great Wall of China.
6. "That was a close one" said Angie.
7. When they let go of the rope Devin said "I bet the tuxedo man is mad". 
8. "Well he is going to get what he deserves" Angie responded. 
9. "If he's still on the other side the helicopter is going to bomb him with 1000 rotten eggs."

Angie Star 3

1. "Angie we're here" Devin said.  "Don't worry Devin I know" she replied.
2. It was night the stars were out and everything was dead silent. 
3. Calmly the two kid spies rappelled off the Great Wall of China.
4. Like dark ghosts in the night they ran to an opening in the wall.
5. Their years of training including the ninja art of self-concealment were paying off.
6. "It's nice to see you again Devin and Angie" an oily voice suddenly sounded in the darkness.
7. Devin and Angie froze and a man in a tuxedo stepped out of the shadows.

After arriving at Mr. Neely's apartment, Jessie learned important truths about Clifton, Mr. Neely, and her situation.  List any four.

Describe the strange man who pushed against Jessie at the phone booth.  Include details of why the stranger seemed suspicious.

Describe Jessie's escape ride.  Why did the bread truck prove to be a perfect solution?  What characteristics did the truck have which were beyond Jessie's 1840 understanding?

Why do you think Jessie enjoyed Nicole Steven?

Describe how the teenagers' 1996 behaviors upset Jessie.  What does this tell us about how our culture has changed over time?

Would you rather live in a castle, on a houseboat, or on a farm?  Why?