Ruby Holler
by Sharon Creech
Chapter 1:
The Silver Bird
1. What did Dallas see when he leaned
out of the window? A bird
2. What bird did he think it was? A
magical silver bird
3. Where did Dallas imagine the bird
went to? A basin in the hills where cool breezes drifted and it was its home
4. What was his sister Florida doing?
Pulling weeds
5. Where did the clump of weeds land?
On Mr. Trepid’s back
6. What did Mr. Trepid do? Whacked
Florida over the head
7. What did Dallas wish would happen to
Mr. Trepid? Carry him high up over the town and drop him splat in the middle
Chapter 2:
The Baxter Creek Home
1. What did town of Baxter look like?
Tired, old homes, old stores and buildings
2. What did the Baxter Creek Home for
children look like? Ramshackle house, tilting towards the railroad tracks
3. Who lived there? Managers Mr. and
Mrs. Trepid, their assistant Morgan and 13 children
4. Who were the oldest children in the
home? Dallas and Florida (twins aged 13)
5. What did Dallas and Florida look
like? Tall, dark hair and eyes, sturdy frame, rough-edged and unkempt
6. What was Dallas like? Quieter than
Florida, daydreaming
7. What was Florida like? Noisier,
loud, squirmy, talkative. Face full of expression (ex: from surprise to disgust
8. What were Mr. and Mrs. Trepid like?
Middle-aged, cranky, tired, stiff, cold
9. What kind of rules did they believe
in? General rules, rules for the kitchen, bathroom, stairway, basement,
outside, upstairs, downstairs, clothing, washing, cleaning
10. Where were they posted? Doorways,
hallways and each child’s bed
11. What did Mrs. Trepid say would
happen if they didn’t have rules? The kids would eat them alive
12. What was the punishment for not
obeying the rules? Thinking corner in the basement for two hours or 2 hours
scrubbing, or 2 hours weed pulling
13. What did Dallas imagine while he was
in the thinking corner? Lying in a field, grass, he got smaller until he was a
baby and someone with a sweet face leaned down and wrapped him in a blanket
14. Who no longer came to check on the
home, the children or the caregivers? Social workers, health workers, building
inspectors or doctors
15. What did Dallas and Florida think of
adults? Trouble- grown-ups, short-tempered, impatient, quick to punish
16. What plan did Dallas and Florida
have to escape? Jump on the night freight train and ride out of town soon.
Chapter 3:
Ruby Holler
1. How far was Ruby Holler from Baxter?
20 miles away
2. What did Ruby Holler look like?
Lush, green valley with two cabins
3. Who lives in the cabins? Far-end: a
man on his own; middle: 60 year old man and his wife
4. What was the man tired of? Same
view, same creaky swing, tired of hauling water and chopping wood
5. Where did they think they would like
to move to? To a condo with electricity and heat, air conditioner, TV, garage
with a garage door opener
6. What swooped down from the sky? A
small gray bird
Chapter 4:
Mush
1. Where did Dallas and Florida have to
sit during mealtimes? far corner of the dining room and not with the other
children.
2. What did they get to eat? Mush
3. What did Dallas want to do with Mr.
Trepid’s gold tooth? Remove the gold tooth and give him a red plastic tooth
shaped like a fang
4. Where was Florida supposed to keep
her hands during the mealtime? In her lap
5. How did she eat then? She lapped the
mush with her tongue
6. What rule was posted in the dining
room? No talking
7. What time did Dallas finish his
dishwashing job? 7:30 PM
8. What did they bring back from the
kitchen to eat at night? A piece of bread and raw potato
9. Where did they put it? Under a floor
board
10. How old were they when they went to
live with the Hoppers? 5 years old
11. What did Dallas do with the jar of
quarters? Put his hand in
12. What did Mr. Hopper call him? Thief
13. What did Florida do with the jar?
Smashed it
14. Where did the Hoppers take the twins
then? Back to Boxton Creek Home
15. Who did Florida have a nightmare
about
16. How did Hallas talk to Florida when
they were in their rooms? Through a hole in the wall in the closet
17. What did Dallas say to Florida to
comfort her? Some day we will get on the freight train and we’ll live in a
beautiful place
Chapter 5:
Thinking Corner
1. Where did Dallas throw the ball?
Into a window
2. What was his punishment? Basement
thinking corner
3. Who long did he have to stay in the
basement? two hours
4. What did he think of while he was in
the basement? About somewhere green and sunny with trees and birds and he could
throw a ball without getting into trouble
5. Whose turn was it next in the
thinking corner? Florida. She stomped on flowers
6. What did Florida think about in the
Thinking Corner? About a woman she had seen pass by the Home
7. What did the woman look like? tall,
large-boned, frizzy unruly hair
8. What did Florida call her? Mom
9. Who had she seen with Mr. Trepid the
night before? A man
10. When the man turned towards her,
what did he look like? Matted hair, frightening
11. What did Florida do when she saw a
spider? She threw the stool at the spider and smashed it
12. Who heard her? Mr. Trepid
Chapter 6:
The Opportunity
1. Where did Mr. and Mrs. Trepid take
Florida and Dallas? Into their office
2. What clothes did they have to change
out of? Putrid, scratchy, smelly, “I’ve Been Bad” shirts
3. What clothes did they get instead?
Clean clothes
4. What opportunity did the Trepids
have for Dallas and Florida? A travelling opportunity
5. What kind of foster home were the
twins in before? It had a hundred zillion fleas, lizards and the guy was a
lunatic
6. Who did Mr. Trepid say needed the
twins? A very, very nice, respectable couple
7. Where was the couple going? To
Rutabago River and Kangadoon, during summer vacation
8. For how long did they want to split
up the twins? 3 months
9. What was the name of the old couple?
Mr. Tiller Morey and his wife Sairy
10. What did Dallas and Florida think of
them? A couple of old lunatics
Chapter 7:
Doubts
1. What did Florida think of those
lunatics (Tiller and Sairy Morey)? That they were just like their last foster
parents who smiled a lot until they got to know Florida and Dallas better
2. What did Dallas think about? He saw
himself on a trip to Kangadoon, on the island and ocean
3. What did Florida think they should
do? Get away on the freight train because they can’t wait long enough to ever
get enough money to leave
4. What did Florida think of Rutabago
River? It looked like paradise and it’s probably fake
5. What does Florida think they old
people will be like on the trip? Yell, scold, tell them they’re loud, messy,
stupid
6. What did Florida hate most of all
about the trip with the old people? She would be separated from Dallas and have
to go with the old man.
7. What did Dallas imagine the trip
would be like? Wading barefoot along the shore in Kangadoon. Footprints in the
sand. He drew his sword.
Chapter 8:
Hansel and Gretel
1. Where was the old couple taking Florida
and Dallas? To Ruby Holler
2. What did Tiller look like? Pleasant,
tanned face, deep blue eyes. White hair short and sticking up
3. Where was Ruby Holler? Down the
road, another road, into the hills
4. Who answered the question of why
they were not going with each other on the trips? Tiller
5. What did he answer? Now that’s a
good question
6. What did Ruby Holler look like?
Winding roads, trees, hills, creek
7. Where did Florida and Dallas have to
sleep? In the loft, a treehouse with beds
8. What fairy tale did Florida think
was going to happen to them? Hansel and Gretel
9. What was on the table to eat? Ham
hot corn bread, green beans
10. What did Florida think the old
people wanted to do to them? Fatten them up like Hansel and Gretel
11. What did Dallas dream of? tree
shelter dream
12. What did Florida dream of? Being
chased by lizards and rats through the woods. Running towards something she
didn’t know. Carrying a scrunched-up cardboard box and couldn’t drop the box
Chapter 9:
The God
1. What questions did Tiller ask Sairy?
“I don’t look sixty, do I?” “I’m still relatively handsome?”
2. What did the lady from New York say
about Tiller? She said he was a god
3. What did Sairy whisper as an answer?
“you believed her, you old coot”
4. What was Tiller hoping to do in the
morning? Send the kids back
5. What should Tiller and Sairy do
then? Sairy should come down the river to the Rutabago and Tiller should then
go searching for that stupid bird in Kangadoon (they should stay together)
6. What did he want to do with Florida
and Dallas? He wanted to take them back. Maybe.
Chapter 10:
The Egg
1. What did Dallas look at in the cabin
kitchen on the wall? Photographs
2. What was puzzling about them?
Something in each picture matched something else in the next picture
3. What did he notice in the first photograph?
The men had identical noses, long and thin, arms loosely folded, head cocked to
one side
4. What was the same in the next
picture? Two plump women with the same nose, standing the same way
5. What had Dallas noticed at school
about the fathers and their children? He saw how the father looked like when he
was a little boy
6. What questions would Dallas ask
Florida? “How do we know who we are?” “How do we know what we’ll be”
7. What did Florida answer? We might be
big and clumsy and stupid, or we might turn into geniuses
8. What did Dallas think his mother was
like? Wispy, like a princess, extremely smart. Could do anything (paint, sing
etc.)
9. What did Florida find outside? An
egg, pale blue with tiny black and white speckles (bird egg)
10. What did they at first want to do
with the egg? See what is in it and hatch it
11. What did Florida do with it? She scraped
one end with her fingernail, then squeezed it
12. What happened to the egg? Gooey
stuff oozed out.
13. What did Florida suddenly remember
of the time she was small? Smashing eggs on the kitchen floor and someone
slapping her.
14. What did she do then with the bird
egg? Hurled it against the wall and threw all the pillows against the wall.
Chapter 11:
The Group
1. What was Tiller thinking when he got
up in the morning? Sairy should come with him on the river trip and not the
kid.
2. How was Sairy feeling in the
morning? She was beaming; It was great to have the kids at the cabin.
3. What did Sairy call Tiller? Mr.
Grump.
4. What did Sairy say Tiller and
Florida could do after breakfast? Work on the boat.
5. What did Tiller think could happen
after Florida helped him fix the boat? Sairy might come with him on the river
and the kids would go back to Boxton.
Chapter 12:
Work
1. How many years ago was the boat
built? Over 40 years ago.
2. What kind of boat was it? Canoe.
3. What needed redoing? Seats trim,
couple of leaks, sanding and varnishing.
4. How long will it take to fix up the
boat? Two weeks.
5. How much will Florida have to work
on the boat? Only when she wants to.
6. How much money will she earn? $5/ hour.
7. What was Florida planning to do with
the money? Hop on the night train.
8. What were Sairy and Dallas doing?
Making a list of equipment for the trip to Kangadoon.
9. Where did Dallas think they would
buy the equipment? Used at the Salvation Army.
10. How did Dallas imagine the new
stuff? Shiny, clean, nice smell, binoculars.
Chapter 13:
Gravy
1. After getting money, what did
Florida think of the old couple? Definitely lunatics.
2. What smell made them stay with the
couple for a while yet? Chicken and dumplings.
3. From where did they have to get
water? From the well.
4. What happened to the bucket? It fell
in the well.
5. Who would get it out? Tiller.
6. What things did Dallas want to
learn? Learn to use the axe to chop wood and light the lamps.
7. Why was Tiller feeling crotchety? He
wanted the kids to leave and for Sairy to travel with him.
8. What did Florida do to the wood on
the boat and the varnish? Hammered the nails hard, spilled can of varnish.
9. What did Tiller tell Florida about
himself? Got red paint on cat, chicken and pig when he painted the barn.
10. Did Tiller’s father hit him? No.
11. What did Tiller’s father ask Tiller
to do with the animals that had red paint on them? Get rid of the red paint on
the animals.
12. How long did it take Tiller? 2
weeks.
13. Where was Tiller born? On a boat.
14. How many children did Sairy and
Tiller have? Four (Buddy, Lucy, Charlie and Rose).
15. In school, where did Dallas sit? In
the back.
16. Where did the children with ideas
sit? In the front.
17. What did Sairy think of his ideas?
They were interesting.
18. How did Sairy and Tiller get used to
not having their children around? By cooking get-over-kid’s stew, beat the
blues broccoli, anti-crank crumpets.
19. What meal had they made last night?
Getting used to kids again stew.
Chapter 14:
Wood
1. What was on top of the fireplace
mantel? Tiny wooden birds.
2. What was on top of the bookcase? A
fleet of miniature boats.
3. What did Florida think would happen
if someone touched them? Get their hands smacked or shot.
4. What did Sairy give Dallas and
Florida to hold? The wooden birds and boats.
5. What happened to them when the twins
held them? The bird and boat broke.
6. What did Florida ask Sairy to do?
Punish them for breaking the boat and bird.
7. From what had Tiller and Sairy made
the boat and birds? Out of wood from the limbs of branches – pieces of wood
that talked to them.
8. When something broke, instead of
punishing the twins what did Sairy and Tiller ask them to do? Help fix it.
9. What did Florida think Sairy and
Tiller would do with the knives? Stab someone.
Chapter 15:
Conversations in the Night
1. In order to travel the twins needed
what two things? Birth certificate and passport.
2. Who was going to get them a birth
certificate? Mr. Trepid.
3. How did the train whistle sound to
Florida? So lonely.
4. Who met behind the Boxton Creek
Home? Two men.
5. What kind of tooth did one of the
men have? A gold tooth.
6. What did the one man give the other?
A wad of money.
7. What did he tell him to do? Keep
your lips zippered.
8. Why did Sairy think they would make
good parents to the twins? They had experience with their own kids.
9. What had Dallas been mad at? He
tried to whittle (carve) a robin and it didn’t turn out well.
10. Which of the old couple’s children
had been a bad carver? Charlie.
11. What did he do to get rid of his
carving? He set it on fire.
12. What had Grace (who lived in Boxton)
told the old couple? The Trepids call Dallas and Florida “trouble twins” and
maybe they should be careful.
13. What does Tiller want to do with the
twins? Send them back.
14. What did Sairy say to Tiller? He
really enjoys messing around in the holler with the twins; You can’t send the
twins back like a pair of boots that don’t fit.
15. How come they hall the place Ruby
Holler? In the fall all the maple leaves turn scarlet red, leaves look like
rubies dangling on trees. In summer they look like emeralds.
16. Did Dallas and Florida plan to go on
the trip with the old couple? No – they want to go on the train.
17. What did Florida dream about? Golden
bird looking for a missing baby.
18. What did Dallas dream of? Silver
bird.
Chapter 16:
The Axe
1. What noise did Tiller hear? Hacking,
whacking noise.
2. What did Sairy think? Tiller was
losing his marbles.
3. What had the twins done? Chopped
down Tiller’s favourite tree.
4. What had twins done to the barn?
Hole chopped in the side of the barn to make a window.
5. What did the twins think the couple
would do to them? Punish them.
6. What did Sairy say? The idea of the
hole was a brilliant idea to have a window.
7. Did the twins expect such a
reaction? No.
Chapter 17:
The Rocker
1. What did Florida see in the bedroom
of the old couple? A rocker.
2. Had Florida ever seen or sat in a
real rocker? No.
3. Who could use the rocker now?
Anyone.
4. What would Tiller do if the rocker
fell apart? Fix it.
5. What did Florida say about the
rocker? Maggoty old rocker.
6. The next day, who was rocking in the
rocker? Florida.
7. What was she holding in her lap? 2
of the wooden bird carvings from the mantle.
8. What was she whispering? “There,
there, it’s okay”.
9. What did Tiller remember about the
rocker? How he was rocked; his children rocked; what it would be like never to
have been rocked.
Chapter 18:
The Trepids
1. What did Mrs. Trepid hear? Silence,
absolute silence.
2. What made Mrs. Trepid uneasy about
the twins? They usually came back.
3. How many children now lived at the
home? Eleven.
4. When Mr. Trepid was sitting in the
chair in the shack, what image came to his mind? A boy who had been in the home
a few years ago.
5. What happened to the boy? He got
sick and had a fever.
6. Who did Mr. Trepid call to help the
boy? He died.
7. What did the boy ask before he died?
“Who am I?”
8. Where did Mr. Trepid go after they
took Joey away? To his own parents’ grave.
9. What did Mr. Trepid ask at the
grave? “What?” “Who?”
Chapter 19:
Understone Funds
1. What did the twins smell in the
morning? Pancakes and maple syrup.
2. What did they break? Window.
3. What did the twins ask? “Now will
you punish us?”
4. What did Sairy reply? “If you kids
won’t punish me, I won’t punish you”.
5. What was in the blue bowl? Worms and
mud.
6. What rules did the old couple have?
About not letting any donkeys on the roof.
7. Where did the couple keep their
extra money? Understones fund (under a stone in metal boxes).
8. What are the twins thinking of
doing? Finding the money.
Chapter 20:
Through the Holler
1. What did the old couple call some of
the plants and trees in the holler? Picnic tree, tickle-violets, bear bush.
2. What had Sairy given Tiller on his
60th birthday to let him know where her money was? A map.
3. What had Tiller given Sairy on her
60th birthday? Also a map.
4. What other secret had they kept from
each other? The holler seemed empty after their children left.
5. What did they call Sairy? Old lady.
6. Who were the twins trying to follow?
Sairy and Tiller.
Chapter 21:
Lost and Found
1. What were Tiller and Sairy doing
while they waited for the twins? Whittling.
2. What did they remember about their son
Buddy? When he was 12 he lived in their barn because he decided he was an
orphan.
3. How did Buddy give up living in the
barn? They made getting over being an orphan cookies (triple chocolate).
4. Where was a muffled call coming
from? Over by the bear bush.
5. Where was Florida? Trapped by the
bush.
6. Where was Dallas? By the
tickle-violets and picnic tree stung by bees.
7. What did twins say why they were
there? They worried about the old couple.
8. Why did Tiller think they shouldn’t
have mentioned the buried money to the kids? Too much temptation.
9. What did Florida remember about the
Hoppers’ money? How she smashed a jar of money.
10. What did Florida decide about money?
It’s trouble.
11. What did they decide to do with
their own money? Bury it.
Chapter 22:
A Trip to Boxton
1. On the trip to Boxton where did
twins not want to go? Boxton Creek Home.
2. Why were the twins at the home so
many years? Revolving door sweeps us right back.
3. What had Buddy called himself? Mr.
Trouble.
4. If the twins set a foot into the
home, what could happen? The Trepids might throw them in those cobwebby rooms
and lock the doors.
5. Where did they decide to meet after
their errands? Grace’s Diner.
6. Where did Sairy go? To the Boxton
home.
7. What did the twins tell Mr. Trepid
about where the old couple kept their money? Buried under stones.
8. Why did Mr. Trepid think the old
couple had lots of money? Collectors pay a lot of money for their carvings.
9. What question did Mr. Trepid ask
about their trip? When are you all leaving.
10. Why was Mrs. Trepid scolding the
baby? It was crying.
11. What did Sairy want to pick up at
the home? Passports for the twins.
12. How much money did Sairy have to
pay? $300 for the trouble.
13. What did Sairy say about the twins?
They’re fine, no trouble at all.
Chapter 23:
Ready
1. When the boat was finished, what did
Florida think she was good at? Building things.
2. Where were the twins going to go? On
the train.
3. What did they take along? Backpacks,
flashlight, boots, knife.
4. What did they leave the couple for
those things? Money they had earned.
5. How were they feeling, waiting for
the train? Jittery, mournful.
6. When did the twins say was their
birthday? July 29th.
7. What date was on the passport? March
3.
8. How old were the twins when they
went to live with the Cranbeps? Seven.
9. What did Gigi do to them? Spit on them,
pulled hair.
10. What did the twins do in return?
Punched Gigi and ripped her dolls’ hair out.
11. What did the twins think the couple
would react when they found out they were gone? Might have a heart attack,
might be glad they were gone.
Chapter 24:
Tiller and Sairy
1. What did Tiller make himself dream
about? His trip.
2. At what times did he make himself
dream? When he had a problem to solve and the dream would help him solve it.
3. When was the first time he did it?
When Lucy was a toddler.
4. What did Lucy have? A sick spell.
She was listless and pale.
5. What was the only thing Lucy ate?
Orange popsicles.
6. What made Lucy sick? The orange
colour (she was allergic).
7. How did Tiller solve the problem? He
dreamed about it.
8. What did Tiller cook for Lucy?
Getting-better soup (Lucy Soup).
9. What did he hope this dream about
his trip would tell him? Whether he should take the trip.
10. Why did Sairy want to take a trip by
herself? To see if she would be different by herself.
11. Where did Sairy go when she was
nineteen? To New York.
12. What did she want to do in New York?
Go to college.
13. What did Tiller do so Sairy would
change her mind and come back to Ruby Holler? He sent her postcards every week
for six months describing Ruby Holler.
14. What thing did Sairy not like about
New York? Loud noises and strange smells.
Chapter 25:
The Holler at Night
1. What is Ruby Holler like at night?
Silence is eerie; creatures of all shapes; groans and howls; boalders loom.
2. How long were the twins in the
forest before they were tangled in the thicket? 10 minutes.
3. What did the dark remind the twins
of? Of Mr. and Mrs. Dreep.
4. Where did the Dreeps lock the twins?
In the cellar.
5. Where in the Holler did they put
their sleeping bags to sleep? On rocks.
6. How were Tiller and Florida going to
get to Rutabago? By paddling a boat.
7. How were Sairy and Dallas going to
get to Kangadoon? First by plane and then hiking.
8. What were they looking for in
Kangadoon? A bird.
9. What does the bird look like? Little
chicken body; long lopsided tail with many colours.
10. What did Florida call Dallas? Mr.
Boss.
11. How did Mrs. Burgerton make them
sleep? On their stomachs.
12. Who got them into trouble? The
Burgerton boys.
13. How did the twins get even with the
boys? They put ants, spiders, snakes and frogs in their beds.
14. Where did Mr. and Mrs. Burgerton
take the twins? Back to Boxton Creek House.
Chapter 26:
Shack Talk
1. Where was Mr. Trepid? In his
hideaway shack in the alley.
2. Who was with him? A man known as Z.
3. What did Mr. Trepid think of him?
Shiftless man, slithery possum.
4. What did the man look like? Matted hair,
greasy, rumpled, frayed clothes and cloudy green eyes.
5. What did Mr. Trepid like about Z? Z
would do what Mr. Trepid wanted him to do as long as money was involved.
6. What did Mr. Trepid want to know?
When they are leaving town.
7. What was the second part of what Mr.
Trepid wanted Z to do? Surveying.
8. What was going to happen in Ruby
Holler? An adventure.
Chapter 27:
Trials
1. What were Florida and Dallas feeling
inside their sleeping bags? Hungry.
2. What had the twins forgotten to
pack? Food.
3. What did they smell in the morning?
Bacon frying.
4. Who did they think was frying bacon?
An old codger or convict.
5. Who cooked the bacon? Tiller and
Sairy.
6. What did Sairy say the twins were
doing out in the Holler? Trying out the equipment.
7. How did Sairy know the twins were
gone? She always checked on them at night.
8. Why did the couple bring food and a
frying pan out in the holler? They knew the kids would be hungry.
9. What improvements did the twins
suggest to the equipment? Newt to keep the bugs out and more food.
10. What was Sairy right about? The
twins weren’t out stealing money, they were running away.
11. What did Sairy ask Tiller to do? Be
extra nice to the twins.
Chapter 28:
Mrs. Trepid
1. Who had left the twins at the home?
A woman bundled in a tattered and faded dress.
2. Where did she leave them? In a box
on the porch.
3. What did Mr. and Mrs. Trepid do with
the forms they were supposed to submit? Tore them up.
4. Why did they do it? They wanted to
keep the twins as their own.
5. What did Mrs. Trepid say when people
inquired about the twins? Said they are already taken.
6. When the babies were very small what
did Mrs. Trepid want to do? Take care of the twins herself.
7. What did she do after a few months?
Filed the papers.
8. Why didn’t people want twins? Too
much work.
9. What did Mrs. Trepid think about?
How she could live through more children.
Chapter 29:
Decisions
1. What did Sairy urge the twins to do?
Take a day off and go in the holler to holler.
2. What did Sairy ask them to do if she
would ever lock them up? Bust out, bite me, kick me and throw me over the
cliff.
3. What did the twins decide to do? Go
on the trip with the couple and bury their money again.
4. What did Tiller know about Sairy?
Every line on her face and every expression. He knew more about her than he
knew about himself.
5. What did Tiller want to do about the
trips? Cancel them and stay in the holler.
6. What did Sairy say? No, we will go
because the kids are counting on it.
Chapter 30:
Nightmares
1. What was the weather like? Thunder
boomed and lightning cracked.
2. What nightmare did Dallas have? He
was upside down in the boat under the water and couldn’t get out.
3. What was the wind doing in his
dreams? Whipping the creek, waves were getting taller and taller and pushing
him into a tangled mess of trees.
4. What was Tiller’s dream? Alone in
the river and the boat was sinking.
5. What did Sairy dream of? A
red-tailed bird had turned into a dinosaur and was lunging toward her.
Chapter 31:
Medicine
1. What did they do at breakfast in the
morning? They told of their nightmares.
2. What did they need to get rid of the
nightmares? Bad-dream medicine.
3. What was it? Ice cream.
4. After breakfast, what funny notion
did Tiller have? A rehearsal (trying out the boat and going on a hike).
5. What did they all think of the idea?
They thought it was genius.
Chapter 32:
Paddling and Hiking
1. How long had Tiller and Florida been
paddling? Four hours.
2. How did Florida do paddling? Not so
good.
3. Why was the place called Hidden
Rivers? It wasn’t on any map.
4. Who had found it? Tiller and his
father.
5. Where did Florida think they would
end up? Lost and starve to death.
6. Why were there no mosquitos in Ruby
Holler? The bats ate them.
7. Where were Sairy and Dallas? On a
hike.
8. How did Florida feel being separated
from Dallas? Cold fear like it was a trick to separate the twins.
9. How did Florida feel on the inside?
Like a trapped mouse.
10. What question did Sairy ask Dallas?
Do you ever wonder what you’d be like without Florida.
11. What did Dallas forget to bring
along? Compass.
Chapter 33:
Z’s Report
1. Where did Mr. Trepid and Z talk? The
alley shack.
2. What did Mr. Trepid want Z to do?
Survey an area.
3. What is Z to look for in Ruby
Holler? A stone.
4. What did Mr. Trepid say why he needs
to look for a stone? It marks an oil source.
5. When will Z get the rest of the
money? When he brings the map with special stones marked on it.
6. When Mr. Trepid returned to Boxton
Creek Home, what question didn’t he ask his wife? “why do you have a cloth
draped over your forehead?” or “What’s wrong?”
7. What would she have answered? Which
child broke the window; which one broke his arm, which one tracked in mud;
which one sassed her.
8. What did he tell his wife instead? I
have good news.
9. What was the good news? We might be
coming into some money soon.
10. Where did Mr. Trepid say the money
is coming from? Investments.
Chapter 34:
Bearings
1. Since they didn’t have a compass,
how did Sairy and Dallas find their way? Sun and moss on the tree.
2. What did Sairy ask Dallas to tell
her about? The toothless Mr. Dreep.
3. What did he do to the twins? Wanted
them to dig a well and when they couldn’t do it, he locked them in the cellar.
4. What did Dallas do to keep thinking
of the bad things? He imagined he was a pioneer hiking this hill.
5. What did the twins think about when
they were digging the well? Dallas was thinking about gold. Florida thought
about digging Mr. Dreep’s grave.
6. How did the twins get away? They ran
into the woods and ran.
7. What else did Dallas forget?
Canteen.
Chapter 35:
Stiff
1. How did Tiller and Florida feel
after paddling? Stiff, swollen and sore.
2. What was the smell like? Stinky.
3. Did Tiller wish that Dallas and
Sairy were with them? Every two minutes.
4. How is Tiller different from Dallas?
Dallas always things everything will be alright but Tiller complains.
5. Did Tiller and Florida ever want to
be all alone? No, they needed someone to complain to.
6. Who did Tiller ask Florida to tell
him about? The Hoppers.
Chapter 36:
A long Chain
1. What did Sairy wear around her neck?
A yellow scarf.
2. What was Dallas hoping the yellow
scarf would help him find? Water.
3. What was Sairy imagining? An
invisible ball of twine unfolding behind her al the way to Ruby Holler.
4. Who did Dallas say she looked like?
Like her mother in the picture on the kitchen wall.
5. Who was in the other picture? Tiller
and his daddy.
6. What else did Dallas forget to
bring? Matches.
Chapter 37:
Word Pictures
1. After Florida had finished telling
Tiller about the people they had lived with, how did Tiller feel? He felt like
strangling those people.
2. What does Dallas think about his and
Florida’s future? They will live in a nice place and get married and have lots
of kids.
3. When Florida and Dallas were in a
bad place, what did Dallas say to make them feel better? Talked all night about
good things.
Chapter 38:
Surveying
1. Where was Z sitting? On Tiller and
Sairy’s porch.
2. What did Z draw? Square for the
cabin and lots of stones around it.
Chapter 39:
The Worrywarts
1. What question did Dallas ask Sairy
on their hike? Why would you go someplace else when you have a nice place at
home.
2. When did Florida cry? At the
Hoppers, the Cranbeps, the Burgertons and the Creepy Deeps.
3. When did Dallas cry? After Joey died
and sometimes at night at the home.
4. What did Tiller and Sairy find
walking in the holler – in the middle of the path? A perfect piece of wood for
whittling.
5. What did Sairy see in the wood? A
perfect bird.
6. What could Tiller see? A perfect
boat.
7. Who got the wood first? Sairy.
8. Why didn’t she carve it? She thought
she might ruin it.
9. Who got it next? Tiller.
10. Did he carve it? No.
11. Where did he put it? On their
dresser.
12. Where is the wood now? Still on the
dresser.
13. What did Dallas think might happen?
Florida gets used to being without him.
14. What did Sairy think might happen?
Tiller might get used to being without her.
15. What did they call themselves?
Worrywarts.
Chapter 40:
Babies in the Box
1. What had Tiller and Florida been
doing? Travelling the length of Hidden River and portaging.
2. What were they doing when the storm
broke? Sat under the canopy, Tiller was carving a fishing boat and Florida was
staring at her piece of wood.
3. What did Florida think might happen
in the lightning? Lightning might hit a tree and hit them.
4. What question did Florida ask
Tiller? Did you ever see a dead person.
5. Who had Florida seen dead? Joey from
the home.
6. What did Joey ask before he died?
Who am I.
7. What did Florida write on her arm?
Her name.
8. How did Florida and Dallas get their
names? They were lying on those travel pamphlets.
9. What was their last name? Carter.
10. How did they get it? It was on the
side of the box.
11. What was happening to the wood while
Florida was talking? She was carving when she paid no attention.
Chapter 41:
Shopping
1. Where did Mrs. Trepid go shopping?
Burley’s department store.
2. What was she looking for? A dress.
3. What did the perfect dress look
like? Pale blue silk with tiny pink flowers; ankle length and sleeveless with a
low, scooped neck.
4. What did the salesgirl say to her?
That dress was made for you.
5. What would the dress be perfect for?
An evening on an island.
6. How could Mrs. Trepid pay for it?
Layaway (pay a little now and a little each month).
7. When Mrs. Trepid was leaving, what
did she hear the salesgirl say to another customer? That dress was made for
you.
8. How did Mrs. Trepid feel then?
Foolish.
9. Where had Mr. Trepid gone? Prosper
City, to a Cadillac showroom.
10. What kind of car would he like to
buy? A red convertible.
11. What kind of car did Mr. Trepid say
he was driving? A Porsche.
12. What did Mr. Trepid really own? A
10-year-old Plymouth.
13. How might Mr. Trepid pay for the
car? Cash.
Chapter 42:
Dorkhead
1. What did Sairy sometimes give the
pieces of carving? Made-up names.
2. What was the birthdate on the
passport? March third.
3. What was the birthdate on the birth
certificate? The day they arrived at the orphanage.
4. What made Dallas mad? Not knowing
his real birthday.
Chapter 43:
Loops
1. What did Florida learn about the
river? Rivers were like living things and had many faces.
2. Who did she think her mother had
been? Fisher-woman.
3. Did Tiller get mad at Florida when
she goofed up? No.
4. What word did Tiller use that
Florida used a lot? Putrid.
5. How come they have been paddling so
hard and getting nowhere? The river has been looping.
6. How lost are they? Just a little
lost.
Chapter 44:
Progress
1. How many possible sites did Z spot?
About 25.
2. Is Z finished surveying? No.
3. What did Z see in Mr. Trepid’s
mouth? Gold tooth.
Chapter 45:
The Rock
1. What was the weather like? Raining.
2. What did Florida and Tiller see
around the bend in the review? Huge boulder.
3. What happened to the boat? It
smacked against the boulder and tipped.
4. Where was Florida’s life jacket?
Bobbing on the water away from her.
5. Where was Tiller? Upstream, trying
to hang onto the end of the boat.
6. Could Florida swim? No.
7. What did Florida say as she tried to
save herself? Help me Dallas.
Chapter 46:
Stones in the Holler
1. What kind of morning was it in the
holler? Glorious, air fresh and clear.
2. What did Z do with the stones? Piled
stones near a birch grove; put mysterious-looking squiggles on top of the
stone.
3. What did Z find under a stone? Metal
box painted “Sairy! keep out!”
4. What did Z do with the box? Put it
in his sack.
5. What did he do then? Looked for
Tiller’s box.
Chapter 47:
Running
1. When Dallas and Sairy reached the
summit, what did Dallas see? Stream.
2. As he was running towards the stream
what jumped in front of him? Rat.
3. What did Dallas feel inside him?
Florida is in trouble.
Chapter 48:
More Shopping
1. Where did Mrs. Trepid go shopping?
Prosper City, jewelry store.
2. What did she look at? Gold necklace
with rubies and opals.
3. How much did the necklace cost?
Eighteen thousand dollars.
4. Where did Mrs. Trepid say she was
going? On a cruise.
5. Who else came into the store? Mr.
Trepid.
6. What did he want to buy? A watch.
7. How much did it cost? Nine thousand
dollars.
Chapter 49:
Underwater
1. What was happening to Tiller in the
river? He was dragged along, smashed against rocks.
2. What did he regret? Not wearing life
jacket.
3. What hopes did he have for Florida?
That she made it to shore.
4. What was happening to Florida? She
was slammed against a floating log and pulled underwater.
Chapter 50:
The Feeling
1. What had happened to Dallas?
Slipped.
2. What was nagging at his brain? The
Trepids and the understone funds.
3. What kind of feeling did Dallas and
Sairy have? Something is wrong with Tiller and Florida.
4. Who did they meet? Two young men, 16
or 17 years old.
5. What were Dallas and Sairy looking
for? A phone.
6. What did the two young men offer to
do? Watch their stuff.
7. Who had hauled their boat to the
river? Z.
Chapter 51:
Z
1. Who had Sairy and Tiller asked to
keep an eye on their place? Z.
2. What else had Z gotten for the
Trepids? Birth certificates.
3. When Z found some old records what
name was located as the mother of the twins? Z’s wife.
4. Who could be their father? Z.
Chapter 52:
The One-Log Raft
1. How did she feel against the river?
Mad.
2. What did Florida smack against? A
wide log.
3. What did Florida shout as she
barreled down the river? Tiller.
Chapter 53:
The Dunces
1. What were Sairy and Dallas looking
for? A diner with a telephone.
2. Why is Sairy feeling like a dunce?
Because she thinks everybody is good and everyone tells the truth.
3. What did Sairy untie from her neck?
The yellow scarf.
4. Where had Dallas seen Z? With Mr.
Trepid.
5. What happened to Z’s wife? She left
him.
6. How many years ago had Z’s wife left
him? 10-15 years ago.
7. What did they find? A farm, people
and a phone.
Chapter 54:
Slow Motion
1. What happened to Tiller’s arms when
he was in the river? They gave out and went numb.
2. What did Tiller remember about his
daughter Rose? She had been at the bottom of the river holding her nose.
3. What did he remember about Sairy?
Maybe keeping a secret (understone fund) would be a protection in case
something happened to the other person.
Chapter 55:
On the Road
1. Where was Z driving Sairy and
Dallas? To find Tiller and Florida.
2. Why did Z keep looking at Dallas? He
though he was his son.
3. How will they know where Tiller and
Florida are? Gut feeling.
4. Who took the understone funds for
safe-keeping? Z.
5. What did Sairy think about Dallas
and Florida’s understone funds? It was so sweet.
6. What two things made Dallas feel
terrible? About having told Mr. Trepid about “the understone funds”; maybe not
finding Florida and Tiller (who might be dead).
7. What did a guy say about Kangadoon?
Mosquitoes have malaria.
8. Where did they go to find Tiller and
Florida? Mackalack River.
9. Who told them to go there? Their
gut.
Chapter 56:
On the River
1. Where did Florida with the help of
the log make it to? The bank of the river.
2. Where was the boat? Stuck in the
mud, upstream.
3. What did Florida use to tie the tent
rope to? Tree.
4. Why was she going to go back in the
river with the rope? To get Tiller.
5. What did Florida think Tiller’s face
looked like? Purely dead.
6. What did Florida do with Tiller?
Drag him to the bank and mashed on his back.
7. What did Tiller say when he came to?
My heart’s feeling soggy. Get help.
8. What did she shout? Dallas, Dallas.
9. When Florida saw Dallas, Sairy and Z
running towards her how did she feel? Like she would break into a zillion
pieces which would go into the clouds.
Chapter 57:
The Soggy Heart
1. What did Sairy say to Florida at the
hospital? I’m glad you were there.
2. What did Z think about Dallas? The
boy is relying on me to get news about Tiller.
3. What had Florida realized about her
feelings for Tiller? She didn’t know she could care about anyone else besides
Dallas.
4. What did Z want to get for them
while they were waiting at the hospital? Doughnuts.
5. What did Florida do when she saw
Sairy? Wrapped her arms around her.
6. Will Tiller make it? Yes.
Chapter 58:
Preparations
1. What did Z, Dallas, Florida have in
the bowls in the kitchen? Gunk.
2. What was in the gunk? Mousetrap,
lizards, worms, thumbtacks, nettles, poison ivy, dead putrid mouse.
3. What are they going to do next?
Start digging.
4. What was Sairy making?
Be-nice-to-orphans-brownies.
5. What did they put in the holes? Gunk
and brownies.
6. What did Z giver Mr. Trepid? New
map.
7. Who will now look for the money? Mr.
Trepid.
8. When did Z say it would be best to
look for the treasure? Sunday.
9. What tools did Mr. Trepid have to
look for the treasure? Trowel, shovel, empty sack.
Chapter 59:
Investments
1. Why was Mrs. Trepid furious? Mr.
Trepid would be gone all day and she would be alone with all the kids.
2. Where did Mr. Trepid say he was
going? Important business.
3. What was he wearing? Old bowling
shirt and dirty boots.
4. What did Mr. Trepid say to Mrs.
Trepid about his businesses? Not to worry her pretty little head.
5. What did Mrs. Trepid say about her
“Pretty little head”? Would like to know where he is going.
6. Where did Mr. Trepid say the
investments were? Land investments.
7. If the investments come through
where would they go? Alone to an island in the deep blue sea.
8. What did Mrs. Trepid imagine she
would be wearing? Pale blue silk dress and gold necklace with rubies and opals.
Chapter 60:
Hospital Talk
1. Why was Tiller unhappy? He wanted to
get out of the hospital.
2. What kind of operation did Tiller
not need after all? Bypass operation.
3. What did Tiller need? Rest, watching
diet.
4. What kind of boot did he call
himself? Handsome old crotchety boot.
5. What did they (Tiller and Sairy)
talk about all afternoon? About the Hoppers, Cranbeps, Burgertons, Dreeps,
Trepids and Boxton creek home.
6. What did they decide about Florida
and Dallas? They can’t let them go back to the home.
7. How did they feel about the kids and
the holler? They loved them both.
8. What idea are they trying to come up
with? How to keep the twins.
9. What did Z ask Sairy? What year his
wife left him?
10. Who is coming on Monday? Buddy and
Lucy.
11. What was happening tomorrow? That
little Trepid adventure.
12. Where did Tiller want to go? Home.
Chapter 61:
Mr. Trepid’s Adventure
1. Where was Mr. Trepid driving? To
Ruby Holler.
2. What did he imagine? Driving a
Cadillac convertible and his wife sitting beside him.
3. Why did he think it was alright to
take the old couple’s money? They were stupid to bury the money under a rock,
so it was ok to take it.
4. Where were Dallas, Florida, Sairy
and Tiller? In the barn loft with binoculars and cameras.
5. Where was Z? Perched in a tree, near
the bear bush.
6. What had Mr. Trepid found under the
stone? All the stuff that was buried.
7. What did he find in the last hole? A
sack with something hard inside.
Chapter 62:
Jewels
1. What was in the pouch? Jewels (what
looked like rubies, emeralds and diamonds).
2. What did Mr. Trepid have on his
neck? A rash.
3. How did Mr. Trepid think of turning
the jewelry into money? At the jewelers where he saw the watch.
4. What jewels did Mrs. Trepid keep?
Ruby, emerald and diamond.
5. Where did Mr. Trepid say the
brownies came from? A bake sale.
Chapter 63:
Mission Accomplished Cake
1. What were Sairy, Dallas, Florida,
Tiller and Z making? Mission-accomplished cake.
2. How much did Sairy pay for the
stones? $1.99.
3. What did Tiller call Mrs. Trepid?
Putrid pincher.
4. Were the old couple going on the
trips they had planned? No.
5. What did Sairy say to Florida? Don’t
let anyone ever treat you bad again.
6. What did Florida think would now
happen to her and Dallas? The old couple would get rid of them now.
Chapter 64:
Appraisals
1. Where did Mr. Trepid go? To check if
the red Cadillac was still there.
2. What did he have on his clothes? Gum
and cornflakes.
3. Where did he take the car for a test
drive? To the First Avenue Jewelry store.
4. What did the salesman notice when he
looked at Mr. Trepid? Angry rash on his neck and face.
5. What did Mr. Trepid want appraised?
Worthless dime-store stones.
Chapter 65:
Conversations in the Night
1. What did Lucy say to her mom? You
can’t keep those two kids here.
2. Why were the twins packing? They
were leaving on the freight train.
3. Why? Because they thought they were
in the way.
4. Why did Lucy and Buddy change their
minds about the twins? When their heard about their bad experiences and learned
how much they loved the Holler.
5. When he was in the hospital, what
did he say he would teach the twins? Teach Dallas to chop wood and light
lanterns. Go fishing with Florida and teach her how to swim.
6. Where were the twins going? To the
train.
7. What would Florida rather do? Sleep
under the quilt and wake up to the smell of bacon and pancakes.
8. Where was their money? Z was keeping
it for them.
9. Where was Z? In his own cabin.
10. What did his cabin look like? A pit,
dirty with no food.
11. What did he do instead of cleaning
his cabin? Go to sleep.
Chapter 66:
Dreams
1. What kind of night was it when the
twins left? Full moon and good smell.
2. Where did they walk? Followed the
creek a ways.
3. Why did they suddenly not want to
leave? They like it in the Holler and wondered who would help Sairy and Tiller.
4. What idea did Dallas have? To camp
in a fort they found.
5. Why did it look familiar? Dallas had
dreamed about it.
6. What did Florida dream about? A
golden bird.
7. What did Dallas dream about? A
silver bird.
8. What did Florida and Dallas smell in
the morning? Welcome-home bacon.
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