Whirligig

“Party Time”-“Weeksboro, Maine”

Reading Check

1. “[R]eal time” (“Party Time”)

2. Teens attending the party are to dress in black or white, to represent chess pieces in a human chess game. (“Party Time”)

3. Brent tells himself he has the power to die by letting the car he is driving drift into traffic. (“Party Time”)

4. Steph reveals that a boy watches them do the guided imagery, and this boy’s brother eventually will become Steph’s boyfriend. (“Weeksboro, Maine”)

Short Answer

1. While at dinner, Brent observes his father’s countenance to determine his mood. Brent makes the general observation that because his father now makes more money, the family has access to better clothes, household items, and cars; however, Brent also notes that more money does not translate to his father having a better mood overall. (“Party Time”)

2. As a new student in his school and a recent transplant to the city, Brent is very concerned with looking cool and fitting in with those at the party. Jonathan forgets to tell him that the party is black and white themed, so arriving in clothes that do not fit the guidelines ultimately embarrasses Brent deeply. (“Party Time”)

3. Brianna is a pretty, popular girl at Brent’s new school. He is interested in dating her not only for her looks, but for her status, which Brent thinks will help him fit in better. When he tries to approach her at the party, she publicly shames him for following her, causing Brent to become more embarrassed; he attempts to punch Chaz when Chaz’s comments about Brent cause everyone to laugh. Brent then departs in a furious rush, leaving Jonathan behind. (“Party Time”)

4. Alexandra leads Steph in a “guided imagery” in order to visualize the perfect scenario for Steph to find a boyfriend. Alexandra chooses a location with an unusual object called a “whirligig” with the name “Lea Rosalia Santos Zamora” in order to perform the guided imagery. (“Weeksboro, Maine”)

“The Afterlife”-“Miami, Florida”

Reading Check

1. Miss Gill says that the purpose of Brent’s meeting with Mrs. Zamora is for him to better comprehend his actions and start to atone for them. (“The Afterlife”)

2. “[A] traveling whirligig maker” (“The Afterlife”)

3. Calmly and methodically (“The Afterlife”)

4. A street-sweeping car (“Miami, Florida”)

5. A shearwater bird (“Miami, Florida”)

Short Answer

1. Brent learns soon after the crash that he collided with another car head on, killing 18-year-old honors student Lea Zamora. After he is charged with a DUI, Brent is overcome with guilt and grief; he retreats into himself as he grapples with the reality that he killed another human being. (“The Afterlife”)

2. Mrs. Zamora emphasizes that, unlike her husband, she does not believe in “retribution” and thinks that everything happens for a reason. In honor of Lea’s spirit, Mrs. Zamora requests that Brent build four whirligigs at the four corners of the US. Despite his parents’ protests, Brent accepts this offer. (“The Afterlife”)

3. Leaving Seattle, Brent decides to camp near Puget Sound, where a Canadian cyclist befriends him. As the two play card games, Brent observes his own American customs with greater interest. He considers the concept of Karass as a reflection of the different communities he sees. (“The Afterlife”)

4. An unnamed narrator recalls the challenges of moving to the US from Puerto Rico. He does not speak English initially, and eventually moves to a remedial school for English learners. In order to make ends meet he works different jobs in restaurants as a dishwasher. He marries and lives with his wife in her mother’s home. Extended family move in, crowding the residence and causing loud arguments. (“Miami, Florida”)

5. The narrator of “Miami, Florida” meets Constancia at his work, and the two marry and have a baby. This baby dies, which breaks Constancia’s heart. As a result, she is very cautious with her second baby, Raul, which overall adds to the stressful environment that the narrator dreams of escaping. (“Miami, Florida”)

“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”-“Bellevue, Washington”

Reading Check

1. A book on constellations (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”)

2. By playing along that he is Canadian (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”)

3. “‘A teacher lives forever through his students.’” (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”)

4. In Korea (“Bellevue, Washington”)

Short Answer

1. Brent decides to stay at the hostel, giving him a new perspective on life, particularly from visitors from other countries. He recognizes the interest that his peers and other guests have in world affairs, sciences, music, and even American culture. He recognizes that the atmosphere of cooking together is something that would never happen in his house. (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”)

2. After spending his first day in San Diego with Emil, Brent starts building the whirligig. He becomes focused on his project, forgetting all the problems he had prior to the accident, and focuses on trying to make the whirligig a successful and honorable installation for Lea. When he is not working on the whirligig, he practices harmonica songs. (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”)

3. As an adopted child of non-Korean parents, Anthony feels pressured by his parents to fit the Asian stereotype of being intelligent and musically gifted. He struggles with these expectations and instead likes to focus on playing sports and hanging out with his friends. (“Bellevue, Washington”)

4. Over the summer, Anthony and his family go camping. When Anthony’s mom sees the whirligig with Lea playing the harp, she reminds Anthony how he needs to practice more. Anthony grows resentful of the whirligig, even throwing rocks at it. (“Bellevue, Washington”)

“Apprentices”-“San Diego, California”

Reading Check

1. Emil’s copy of Two Years Before the Mast (“Apprentices”)

2. Disappointing experiences may turn out to be the best ones for a variety of reasons. (“Apprentices”)

3. This whirligig is a long project. (“Apprentices”)

4. Auschwitz (“San Diego, California”)

5. Despite the conflicts that bad people cause, there are many good people in the world. (“San Diego, California”)

Short Answer

1. The “belts” of the US are regions which refer to specific geographic, religious, and/or political ties. While there are widely used terms (e.g., “Rust Belt,” “Sun Belt,” “Bible Belt”), Brent begins to make up his own “belts” based on specific patterns of geography and culture that he sees. (“Apprentices”)

2. Brent begins to take an interest in his education again; he reads, and understands scientific material for the first time. He takes particular interest in the study of astronomy and the movement of the planets and enjoys reading in his free time. (“Apprentices”)

3. Brent’s apprentices are “a gaggle of children” who visit him over the course of his working days. They take interest in his project and are amazed at the finished result; Brent believes that despite the potential for storms, “new whirligigs would appear.” (“Apprentices”)

4. Jenny’s grandmother is struggling with cancer. One afternoon, she asks Jenny to take her on a drive through San Diego, telling her to stop at random locations that do not seem to mean anything to Jenny. Finally, Jenny’s grandmother reveals that she knows that she will die soon, and that she wanted to see the former locations of the family store and her former house one last time. (“San Diego, California”)

“Everybody, Swing!”

Reading Check

1. Brent notes the young ages represented on the gravestones; some graves are children’s. (“Everybody, Swing!”)

2. Summer is very short—a few days in July. (“Everybody, Swing!”)

3. “[A] human whirligig” (“Everybody, Swing!”)

Short Answer

1. As he prepares to make his fourth and final whirligig, Brent realizes that he left the instructional manual on the bus. He decides to make the whirligig from experience and memory of the guidance; he also adds creative elements from the local flora and campground resources. (“Everybody, Swing!”)

2. For the first time since the accident, Brent reveals that he had been attempting to die by suicide when he lost control of the car. The painter responds in an understanding tone, insisting that this action does not mean he is not a good person, and that he is still liked by everyone else. (“Everybody, Swing!”)

3. Upon finishing the final whirligig, Brent realizes that he still has a few weeks on his travel card. He decides to travel through the northeast, camping as he goes. With a much more positive outlook, he is excited for this adventure, and to continue learning about himself in the process. (“Everybody, Swing!”)