Why does he say that he feels sorry for his dad

1 7^th  Grade  English  

Study  Guide  Questions  for  Whirligig    

Please  write  your  answers  in  complete  sentences  on  a  separate  sheet  of  paper.      

CHAPTER  1,  "PARTY  TIME"    

1. Who  is  Brent?  

2. Where  does  Brent  live  now,  and  why  has  he  moved  four  times?  

3. Why  does  he  say  that  he  feels  sorry  for  his  dad?  

4. Describe  how  Jonathan  knows  Brent.  

5. What  kind  of  person  is  Chaz?  (Use  an  example  from  the  book  to  explain  your  answer)   6. Who  is  Brianna?    Explain  what  kind  of  person  she  is  using  example(s)  from  the  book.  

7. Why  does  Brent  feel  that  he  cannot  afford  to  have  a  sense  of  humor?  

8. Why  does  Brent  get  angry  when  they  arrive  at  the  party?  

9. How  does  Brianna  treat  Brent  at  the  party?  How  could  she  have  done  this  differently?  

10. How  does  Chaz  make  Brent  feel  even  worse?  What  could  he  have  done  differently  to  not  make   Brent  feel  worse?  

11. While  lost  on  the  interstate,  why  does  Brent  feel  his  life  is  over?  Is  he  justified  in  feeling  this  way   or  do  you  feel  he  is  overreacting?  

CHAPTER  2,  "WEEKSBORO,  MAINE"  

1. Who  are  Alexandria  and  Stephanie?  

2. Why  is  Alexandra  dragging  Stephanie  somewhere?  What  is  Guided  Imagary?  

3. What  is  the  object  they  encounter?  What  words  are  on  it?  

4. Why  does  Alexandra  feel  that  the  whirligig  is  a  good  place  to  visualize  good  things?  

5. What  is  the  outcome  of  Stephanie's  visualization  episode  under  the  whirligig?  

CHAPTER  3,  "THE  AFTERLIFE"  

1. What  was  the  outcome  of  Brent's  accident  after  Chaz's  party?  

2. Would  it  really  have  been  less  of  a  tragedy  if  Brent  had  killed  someone  less  accomplished  than   Lea?    Explain  why.  

3. In  what  condition  is  Brent's  apology  returned  to  him?  

4. What  are  the  court's  terms  of  Brent's  probation?  

5. What  does  Mrs.  Zamora  want  Brent  to  do  to  make  restitution?  

2 6. Why  does  Brent  agree  to  do  it?  

7. Where  does  he  set  up  his  first  whirligig?  

8. What  does  it  look  like?  

9. What  goes  through  Brent's  mind  as  he  is  putting  the  whirligig  together?  

10. Now  that  you  know  what  Brent  is  doing,  what  was  the  previous  chapter  describing?  

CHAPTER  4,  "MIAMI,  FLORIDA"    

1. Why  did  Flaco  get  the  name  Flaco?  

2. Why  did  Flaco's  family  move  to  the  U.S.?  

3. Why  do  they  send  him  to  a  school  for  retarded  children?  

4. Why  does  he  quit  school?  

5. What  tragedy  happens  to  Flaco  and  his  wife?  

6. Why  does  Flaco  find  the  Shearwater  bird  so  appealing?  

7. What  object  at  the  restaurant  makes  Flaco  realize  that  he  needs  to  go  back  home  and  why?  

8. Why  doesn't  running  away  solve  problems?  

CHAPTER  5  "TWINKLE  TWINKLE  LITTLE  STAR"  

1. What  is  the  real  reason  the  strange  man  asks  Brent  for  directions?  

2. What  does  the  author  mean  by  the  statement,  "…the  effects  of  one's  acts  travel  far  beyond   one's  knowledge."?  

3. Who  is  Emil?  

4. What  are  some  things  that  the  other  kids  at  the  hostel  discuss  and  do  that  Brent  had  never   talked  about  or  done  while  living  with  his  parents?  

5. What  are  some  of  the  normal  teenage  concerns  that  Brent  now  realizes  don't  really  matter?  

CHAPTER  6  "BELLEVUE,  WASHINGTON"  

1. What  instrument  does  Tony  play?  

2. Why  doesn't  he  know  exactly  when  his  birthday  is?  

3. Why  do  you  think  parents  force  their  children  into  participating  in  things  they  do  not  enjoy?  

4. Why  does  Tony  dislike  the  whirligig?  

5. What  happens  at  the  recital?  

6. What  does  the  music  teacher  say  to  the  mom  about  Tony's  violin  practice?  

3 CHAPTER  7  "APPRENTICES"  

1. Why  do  the  preacher's  words  disturb  Brent?  

2. While  Brent  is  making  the  whirligig,  what  kind  of  visitors  does  he  have?  

3. What  hobbies  does  Brent  pick  up  while  on  his  trip?  

4. What  do  the  children  tell  Brent  that  causes  him  to  think  about  moving  the  location  of  the   whirligig?    Why  does  he  leave  it  there  anyway?  

CHAPTER  8  "SAN  DIEGO,  CALIFORNIA"  

1. Describe  Jenny.  

2. Why  is  Jennifer's  grandmother  sick?  

3. What  does  Jennifer  think  of  when  she  looks  at  her  grandmother's  wrist?  

4. What  is  the  reason  the  grandmother  makes  Jennifer  stop  at  several  different  places?  

5. What  does  the  whirligig  mean  to  her?  

CHAPTER  9  "EVERYBODY  SWING"  

1. What  does  Brent  use  for  materials  to  make  his  last  whirligig?  

2. Whom  does  he  meet  on  the  beach?  

3. Where  does  he  hang  his  last  whirligig?  

4. What  does  he  tell  the  woman  that  he  hadn't  told  anyone  else?  

5. What  does  she  help  him  realize?  

6. How  does  Brent  feel  about  going  back  to  Chicago?  

4 Summary  of  the  Whirligigs:  

List  the  4  whirligigs  that  Brent  made  and  information  about  each:  

Whirligig                                                            Where  is  it                                                        Whom  does  it  affect?  

Description                                                      located?  (City/State)                          HOW  does  it  affect  them?  

1.    

2.  

3.      

4.