EOG Question
1. This story is set in all of the following EXCEPT:
    a. The Great Depression
    b. The winter
    c. The Revolutionary War
    d. Mississippi
Pgs. 7-8  Answer: c

Fact / Opinion Question
2.  Decide whether each of the below statements is either fact or opinion.
    -The Great Depression began in 1929. Pg. 7 Answer: Fact
    -Grace-Anne deserved candy from the Wallace store because she was nice and pretty. Pg. 13
     Answer: Opinion
    -The setting of this story is Mississippi in the winter. Pg. 7 Answer: Fact
    -Mr. Charlie was upset that Josias got a lumbering job because he was jealous. Pg. 17-18
     Answer: Opinion

Genre
3. What genre is this book? How do you know?
Pg. 8 Answer: This book is a historical fiction, because it deals with an actual event or time in history (the Depression) but is still fictional.

Italics
4. Why are the words White men written in italics on page 18, paragraph 1? Answer: Pa was upset that white men as well as black men were having to beg for jobs. This shows the way people thought during this time.

Narrative
5. Who is telling the story?
Pg. 24 Answer: Jeremy Simms, a ten year old white boy
 
 

1. Descriptive
a. Page 7, Paragraph 1
b. "It was raining...things to do."
c. I chose this passage because it gives the reader a very good description of the story's setting.
d. According to this passage, what is the weather like? Answer: It has been raining all day.
e. Authors purpose: To Describe

2. Informative
a. Page 8, Paragraph 1, line 6
b. "They laughed...than Negroes."
c. I chose this passage because it informs readers of some important events that occured during this time.
d. What crop were the people in this story worried about? Answer: Cotton
e. Author's Purpose: To Inform

3. Controversial
a. page 21, Paragraph 1
b. "Josias, he got...done had it."
c. I chose this passage because it shows the very upsetting way in which Jeremy's family treats people simply because of the color of their skin.
d. How do you think that Jeremy regards his Pa based on this passage? Answer: Frightened, Intimidated
e. Author's Purpose: To Describe

4. Historical
a. page 29, end of Paragraph 1
b. "But then as that Cassie...white folks' seats!"
c. I chose this passage because it clearly shows the differences in the treatment of African-Americans from the 1920's to today.
d. Why was Cassie's grandmama and Stacey so upset with her for suggesting that they sit in the front of the bus? Answer: Because, back then, only white people were allowed to sit in the front of a bus.
e. Author's Purpose: To Inform
 
 

Jerermy

Character Traits:
1) p. 8, last paragraph
    observant - because he would sit on the porch of the Wallace store and simply watch the crossroads.
2) p. 21, paragraph 1
    intimidated - by his Pa, because of the terrible things he has done when you get on his "wrong side".
3) p. 29, paragraph 1
    helpful - when he enthusiastically helped Miz Hattie and Grace-Anne with their baggage.

Goal:
Jeremy wants  to be friendly with anyone he chooses, regardless of race.

Problem:
Jeremy's Pa does not like black people and has a very short temper.

Possible Solution:
Jeremy could stand up to his father and possibly change his mind about black people.
 
 

             Character Sketcher Illustration
 

1. satchel (p.25, par. 1)
a. "Their grandmama was carrying a satchel in one hand and an umbrella held over herself with the other."
b. satchel - a small bag often with a shoulder strap
c. satchel - another word for a sack
d. noun
e. I bought a satchel at the store yesterday to carry my clothes in.
f. See word wizard card below
 
 
 
 

1. sharecropping (p. 16, line 6)
a. "There was a bunch of them living on a fourteen-acre spot of sharecropping land near to our place."
b. sharecropping - to farm as a sharecropper ( a sharecropper gives a share of his crop to the landlord in lieu of rent)
c. sharecropping - A type of farming, in which the farmer gives part of his crop to the person owning the land (landlord) instead of having to pay rent.
d. verb
e. Why would a person farm the land and give his/her crop to the landlord? Answer: So they do not have to pay rent.
f. See word wizard card below
 
 
 

1. attested (p. 33, par. 1)
a. ""Yes, ma'am," attested Christopher-John."
b. attest - to affirm to be true or genuine
c. attested - to assure that something is true
d. verb
e. John attested to the fact that I had attended school on Monday.
 

1. humiliation (p. 20, par. 6)
a. "R.W. and Melvin, they gone to grinning at Josias's humilation and started mumbling about how Negroes lie."
b. humiliation - to reduce to a lower position in one's own eyes or others' eyes
c. humiliation - to lower the pride or dignity of someone; to make someone feel bad about themselves
d. noun
e. Everyone could see the humiliation in Sally's eyes when she spilled her milk all over the table.
 
 

1. What was the Great Depression?
2. When did it occur?
3. What are some terms associated with this time and what do they mean? (sharecropping, stock market, etc.)
4. Who were some important people during this time? (Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, etc.)
5. What was life like for people during this time?
6. What areas were effected by the Great Depression?
 
 

- Look up "The Great Depression" in an encyclopedia
-Interviews with people who know about this topic (a great source would possibly be any grandparents or great grandparents who lived through this time)
-Any other novels, nonfiction, or textbooks you have read
- Main Causes of the Great Depression - This web page is a little difficult to read, but offers good information.
- Bob Conchran's Memories of the Great Depression - An interesting first hand account of someone who lived during the great depression. He addresses his views of race relations during this time.
- Newsweek Online - This site offers several articles written about the Depression and the New Deal.