Ch. 43
What is a vigil? p. 237T
When Pumpkin returns, she is famished. What does it mean?
How long had Pumpkin been missing?
Why did Matt write a message as if he were Pumpkin?
Ch. 44
What words are frightening to Ursula?
Can you relate to why she is afraid?
Fill in the blank:
Ms. Schultz didn’t have to work too hard to convince Ursula to .
What article of clothing does Ursula compare her alter ego to on p. 240T?
Is an alter ego right for all occasions?
What does Ursula realize is an important skill that Courtey Levao has but that “Ugly Girl could learn”?
What does Ursula do to each girl on the basketball team?
Who cheers the loudest for Ursula at the last few games?
Which two people show up at Ursula’s game which is a pleasant surprise?
After Mrs. Riggs meets Matt, does he match up with what she had heard about him?
Why is it best to judge people for yourself rather than by what others say?
What was “just about the coolest thing” that happened to Ursula in this chapter? (242 B)
What does Ursula do at the end of the chapter that Ugly Girl says she would never do?
Ch. 45
How does Rocky River High compare to Union High in terms of the size of the student body?
Different kids react differently to the “fire drill.” Describe some of the ways the students react:
1. Some kids think it is .
2. But some kids are .
Which adult do the kids make fun of by mimicking what he says?
What does it mean to mimic?
What does Teutonic mean? (It has something to do with what Mr. Bernhardt teaches.)
Why do some kids complain about the “fire drill”?
What is the real cause of the drill?
What happens to Matt again?
What is different about this time compared to the first time?
What mistake did the caller make that was “really dumb”? (249 M)
Who is not a suspect, according to Matt?
Who do we find out called in the threat?
Did you notice how Matt is signing off on his letters to Ursula (hint: it’s no longer “Your friend Matt)?
Ch. 46
What are the two big pieces of news in this chapter?
What did the caller do to avoid being identified?
What does “cryptically” mean?
What is a felony?
Ch. 47
How does Ursula change her appearance?
Why does she do this?
What does Ursula’s dad say about the new look?
What does Matt consider doing after he sees Ursula’s hair?
If Ursula is a good athlete who knows a lot about biology and art, what is Matt’s real strength that even surprises her?
What does Ursula suggest that Matt do with his piece on “Mass Media Hysteria”?
What is “hysteria”?
How are most of the kids now reacting to the fact that Matt and Ursula are a couple?
Ch. 48
What decision by Matt’s parents has a huge effect on how he is treated at school?
What happened to the Brewer twins?
Is it surprising to you that Ursula feels almost sorry for the Brewer twins?
Why is Matt not ready to forgive them?
What does Matt admit about his “Just for the Record” piece that Mr. Steiner had rejected before?
Is Matt willing to blow off Ursula to hang out with the popular kids?
What does that say about him?
What does he call his former friends?
What’s your opinion of Stacey and why?
Ch. 49
When Matt and Ursula go to the Rocky River Nature Preserve, it has been about months since Ursula first e-mailed Matt.
Is this a normal hike or somehow significant?
Why?
How has Pumpkin’s behavior changed since the dognapping?
What happened to Matt’s two pieces, the play and the op-ed piece?
How does the novel end?