Black Storm Comin'- Bonus Blog

How would you rate this book on a scale of 1-10. Explain your rating. Use details from several parts of the book to support your answer.

The Devil's Arithmetic- Bonus Blog

How would you rate this book on a scale of 1-10. Explain your rating. Use details from several parts of the book to support your answer.

Black Duck- Bonus Blog

How would you rate this book on a scale of 1-10. Explain your rating. Use details from several parts of the book to support your answer.

Stepping on the Cracks- Bonus Blog

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Use details from several parts of the book to support your answer.

Midnight Magic- Bonus Blog

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Use details from several parts of the book to support your answer.

Burning Secrets- Bonus Blog

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Use details from several parts of the book to support your answer.

Stepping on the Cracks- Question 3

Click on the book cover on the right side of the blog. Once you are at Mary Downing Hahn's biography site, read the first 5 paragraphs of the article and answer the following questions.

Do you think that Mary Downing Hahn's childhood might have inspired her to write Stepping on the Cracks? What connections from her life can you make to the book? Use details from the story to support your answer.

Burning Secrets- Question 3

Why do you think the author chose to set the story in a haunted house? Would the story be any different if it was set in another place? Be sure to support your answer with details from the story.

Midnight Magic- Question 3

Read the following comments from an internet post Avi wrote about his inspiration to write the book. Once you have read the statement, answer the questions that follow. Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your answer.

I know where the setting for this book entered my imagination—Naples, Italy, which I once visited. But the book came about because I wanted to write a scary book that wasn’t really scary, a ghost story, that may or may not have ghosts, and a tale of magic, that might, or might not have magic.

Do you agree with Avi's statement that he wrote a ghost story that wasn't really scary? What about his statement that he wrote a tale of magic that might or might not have had any magic? Additionally, Avi wrote a prequel (a book about previous events) to Midnight Magic called Murder at Midnight. Would you read the prequel?

Black Duck- Question 3

What effect did the passing of the law outlawing liquor have on Ruben's family? How was this different than the effect it had on Jeddy's family. Be specific and use examples from the text to support your answer.

Black Storm Comin'- Question 3

Colton's dad has run away and now Colton is the head of the family. He is now responsible for taking care of his sick mother and his two little sisters. What kind of problems did Colton run into as the "man" of the family? How does he solve these problems? Do you think he was successful? Use at least two examples from the text to support your answer.

The Devil's Arithmetic- Question 3

The character of Hannah/Chaya undergoes an extreme change from the beginning of the book to the end. How does Hannah/Chaya change over time, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well? Use at least two details from the text to support your answer.

Burning Secrets- Question 2 (Red)

What mood do you think the author has created in this book so far? Give examples from the story to support your answer.

Stepping on the Cracks- Question 2- Red & Yellow

Which character relationship do you think is the most interesting? Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Midnight Magic Question 2- Red & Yellow

When speaking of his trial, Mangus says, "To be found guilty by those whose only evidence is fear is but a judgment on their own fears." What do you think Mangus means by this statement. Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Black Duck Question 2- Red & Yellow

How is the relationship between Ruben and his father changing now that Ruben is involved in bootlegging? How do you see their relationships changing over the next few months?

The Devil's Artitmetic Question 2 (Red & Yellow)

Chaya has recently arrived at the concentration camp. Do you think that Nazis are succeeding in bringing down the spirit of the prisoners? How do you think Chaya will cope with this new environment? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Black Storm Comin' Question 2: Red & Yellow

Ma tells Colton he needs to become the man of the family now that his Pa has left. What actions is Colton taking that shows he now has a new role? Do you think that Colton will succeed in this new role? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Burning Secrets Discussion Question 1 (Red)

Where does this book take place? What mood do you think the author creates in order to describe that place? Make sure to use support from the text to explain your answer.