My Life as a Book

Chapters 1-7

Reading Check

1.  An annotated book from the summer reading list (Chapter 5)

2.  Avocadoes (Chapter 6)

3.  Ginger the hedgehog (Chapter 5)

4.  Draws a goatee and sideburns on his face (Chapter 7)

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. To learn vocabulary over the summer, Derek develops a unique approach by drawing definitions of words instead of writing them. Each drawing relates to an event in his life, such as the drawing of his dad with a goatee, which illustrates Derek drawing a goatee on his dad’s face to make him feel younger. (All chapters)

2. Derek’s dad worries that he’s getting too old compared to the new animators being hired. He thinks that his old style of illustration is becoming obsolete. (Chapter 7)

3. Derek dislikes the idea of reading books without pictures, and he hates being forced into it even more. Derek prefers to read comic books. (Chapter 1)

Chapters 8-14

Reading Check

1. Learning Camp (Chapter 10)

2. Pedro the helper monkey (Chapter 10)

3. Carly (Chapter 9)

4. Bodi’s age (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Derek wants to know the truth about Martha’s Vineyard and why his mother has the article. He finds out that a girl named Susan James drowned there, supposedly trying to save him from drowning when he was 2 years old. (Chapter 8)

2. Derek is jealous that Matt is going and feels as if Matt is having his adventure. He goes to say goodbye to Matt the day he leaves for his trip. (Chapter 14)

3. Margot teaches Derek to visualize the characters, setting, and plot of the text. She encourages him to use his imagination to make pictures in his mind. (Chapter 13)

Chapters 15-22

Reading Check

1. Susan’s memorial website and forum (Chapter 15)

2. She shows him her burglar maze. (Chapter 17)

3. The waves are massive, and the riptide is real. (Chapter 18)

4. Grandma (Chapter 19)

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Derek’s mother believes that it will help Derek move on from everything. She also wants to see Grandma. (Chapter 20)

2. Derek receives an email from his grandma and an email from Madeline James. His grandma announces that she would love them to visit, giving Derek the opportunity to see Martha’s Vineyard. Madeline tells Derek that Susan is looking down on him from heaven, making him feel like he has to live up to a responsibility of greatness. (Chapter 19)

3. Derek tries to visualize the book he’s reading on his own. He manages to get through half a chapter. (Chapter 16)

Chapters 23-33

Reading Check

1. Children’s books/picture books (Chapter 24)

2. Lauren, Susan’s best friend (Chapters 25-26)

3. Lambert Cove (Chapter 29)

4. In the form of an animation project (Chapter 33)

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Pedro shows Derek that with persistence and patience, any task can be mastered. Derek realizes that he can apply this lesson to his trouble with reading. (Chapter 31)

2. Derek’s mother sees all the photos of Susan and how grief-stricken Madeline still is, even after 10 years. She decides to swallow her pride and allow Madeline to live with the idea that Susan was a hero. (Chapter 27)

3. Lauren gives Derek a leather necklace with shells and feathers on it. It’s special because Derek feels like it will protect him from life’s storms. (Chapter 26)