Ruby Holler
About
"Trouble Twins" Dallas and Florida are orphans who have given up believing there is such a thing as a loving home. Tiller and Sairy are an eccentric older couple who live in the beautiful, mysterious Ruby Holler, but they're restless for one more big adventure. When they invite the twins to join them on their journeys, they first linger in the Holler to prepare for their adventures, and the magic of the place takes over. Two pairs of lives grow closer, and are changed forever.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
What did the silver bird that Dallas saw out the window represent?
Page 1 — A good luck charm
1
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Tell me about the city of Boxton.
Page 4 — Tired town; neglected; old homes and shacks clustered around stores and buildings
4
Describe Dallas and Florida.
Page 5 — They’re twins; oldest children in the children’s home; tall; dark haired; dark-eyed; sturdy frames and looked rough and unkempt
5
Find a simile in this chapter.
Mr. and Mrs. Trepid were middle-aged, cranky and tired, and growing stiff and cold as winter-bound trees p. 5; Mr. Putrid walks like a crab scuttling across the ocean floor; the main building pgs.4-11
What was the Boxton Creek Home for Children?
Page 8 — An orphanage
8
What did Dallas and Florida plan to do one night to escape?
Page 11 — Jump on a freight train and ride out of town
11
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What do you think of the small gray bird that landed on the railing listening to the couple talk about moving?
Page 13 — It looked as if it were listening; it was the same silver bird Dallas saw out the window
13
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Why was Florida getting in trouble while eating dinner?
Page 15 — She was talking; waving; being sassy
15
Why does Florida get upset when she thinks about the Hoppers?
Page 19 — She felt that she and Dallas had been very bad at their home and would never be in a real family
19
How did Dallas comfort Florida from her bad dreams?
Page 20 — Talked to her about the beautiful place they would go.
20
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Why did Dallas dream of beautiful green and sunny places?
Page 22 — To comfort himself from bad memories
22
Why did Florida call the woman walking by the children’s home, “mother”?
Page 23 — the woman had hair like Florida’s
23
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Florida want to go to a “foster place”?
Page 26 — because they’d had bad experiences and were always brought back
26
What’s the opportunity Mr. and Mrs. T want to give the twins?
Page 29 — One would go to Kangadoon and one would go to Rutabago and split up for three months to be a companion for an older couple
29
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Why was Florida hesitant to go on vacation to Rutabago?
Page 33 — She felt like this couple would be just like every other couple and she didn’t want to be separated from Dallas
33
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
How did Dallas feel about Ruby Holler?
Page 36 — So excited; thought it was amazing
36
Why was Sairy apologetic about the sleeping arrangements?
Page 37 — Because Dallas and Florida would have to sleep in the same room/loft
37
Tell me about Florida’s reaction to the Morey’s and her experience so far at their home?
Page 39 — She keeps expecting the worst; being locked in a cupboard, having to dig a well, etc.
39
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Why did Tiller want to send the twins back to the children’s home?
Page 42 — Because he thought Sairy and he should go on each other’s vacations instead of have the kids go with them
42
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Why did Florida feel uneasy when Dallas asked her questions about who they were or about their future?
Page 44 — She felt as if they had no control over who they were or their future
44
What happened to the tiny blue egg Florida found outside?
Page 45 — She held it too tight and it cracked
45
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Why was Sairy so full of energy?
Page 49 — She was happy to have the kids around
49
Why was Tiller grumpy?
Page 49 — He hadn’t found a way to tell Sairy he wanted her to come on the trip with him
49
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
Why was Florida ready to work on the boat day and night to fix it?
Page 52 — Tiller was going to pay her $5 an hour
52
What was Dallas so excited about when he and Sairy started to plan their trip?
Page 53 — They were going to buy new stuff
53
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
How did Tiller help Florida feel better about the mistakes she’d made the day before with the varnish?
Page 59 — He told her about the day he got red paint on the cat, chicken and pig
59
How did Florida continue to make Tiller think he’d been tricked?
Page 61 — She made him talk about old stuff
61
Name some of the creative meals the Morey’s made to help them get used to their kids being gone.
Page 66 — Getting-over-kid -stew; beat-the-blues broccoli; anti cranky crumpets
66
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
How did Sairy react when Dallas and Florida broke the wooden bird and wooden boat?
Page 70 — She said they would fix them later
70
What does Sairy mean, when said, “we find those just about everywhere. We pick the ones that speak to us”?
Page 71 — She and Tiller choose to whittle something out of a stick by just knowing something can be made with it
71
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
Who do you think the man with the gold tooth is that met another man behind the Boxton Creek Home?
Page 74 — Whatever ideas your child comes up with
74
Who told Sairy that the Trepids call Dallas and Florida trouble twins?
Page 76 — A lady named Grace
76
Why is the valley they’re in called Ruby Holler?
Page 78 — In the fall the maple tree leaves turn a scarlet red
78
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
What does it mean to “lose your marbles”?
Page 81 — not be thinking straight; going crazy
81
What two things did Dallas and Florida do that tested Sairy and Tiller’s patience?
Page 83 — Chopped down Tiller’s favorite maple tree and chopped a hole in the barn wall
83
How did Sairy respond to Florida when she said she and Dallas were going to go?
Page 85 — She said they were just surprised and that it had been a long time since someone had done something so thoughtful
85
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
What piece of furniture had Florida never seen before?
Page 87 — A rocking chair
87
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
How did the baby respond to Mrs. Trepid?
Page 92 — The baby stiffened and stared wide eyed at her
92
What did Dallas do for Joey when he was sick?
Page 94 — Put a cool clothe on his forehead; watched over him; spoke to him; breathed into Joey’s mouth
94
What had happened to Joey?
Page 94 — He died
94
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
Where do Sairy and Tiller keep their money?
Page 98 — They’ve buried them in holes in the ground
98
After Tiller and Sairy leave to go to their “private banks”, what do Florida and Dallas want to do?
Page 100 — Follow them
100
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
When had Tiller and Sairy finally shared with each other where their hiding places for their “banks” were?
Page 102 — on their 60th birthdays.
102
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
What did Tiller and Sairy do while they waited for Dallas and Florida to come back?
Page 103 — Whittled
103
Why didn’t Tiller want Sairy talking about their understone funds?
Page 109 — It was too much temptation for kids who had so little
109
Why did Florida change her mind and not want to know where the money is?
Page 110 — She remembered her experience at the Hoppers and that money is trouble
110
What did Dallas want to do with their money?
Page 111 — Bury it as well
111
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
How did the twins feel when Sairy said she needed to go to the children’s home to talk to the Trepids?
Page 114 — they didn’t want to go back and were worried about getting thrown into a cobwebby room
114
What did Dallas and Florida tell Mr. Trepid that they probably should have?
Page 116 — They told him about the understone funds
116
What is a passport?
Page 118 — A document that lets you travel out of your country
118
Chapter 23
Comprehension questions
When Dallas and Florida were getting ready to catch the train, why did they want to leave money for the Morey’s?
Page 121 — because they bought them new things
121
Why was Sairy concerned about the passport?
Page 123 — The birthday didn’t match the day Dallas said his birthday was
123
What do you think “hit the grit” means?
Page 125 — Left them; hit the road
125
Chapter 24
Comprehension questions
Where did Sairy go to college?
Page 130 — New York City
130
What made Sairy move back to Ruby Holler when she was in New York City?
Page 131 — Tiller wrote a postcard to her every week about the holler and she missed it
131
What does Sairy wonder as she looks at a photo of her younger self?
Page 132 — Who are you?
132
Chapter 25
Comprehension questions
Why do you think the holler felt so dark to Dallas and Florida?
Page 133 — They had never been in the holler at night before alone; they also had only been in the city with lights around them at night
133
Why did Florida and Dallas decide to stop and pull out their sleeping bags and sleep for a few hours?
Page 138 — They wanted to wait until there was a tiny bit of light from the sun to help them know where they were.
138
What nickname does Florida call Dallas all of the time?
Page 142 — Mr. Boss
142
Why did Dallas and Florida put ants, snakes, spiders and a frog into the Burgerton boys’ beds?
Page 144 — Because they were getting blamed for things they hadn’t done and they might as well do something to get blamed
144
Chapter 26
Comprehension questions
Who is Z?
Page 145 — Someone who worked for Mr. Trepid wanted
145
What’s the first part of the project Mr. Trepid needed Z to do in the holler?
Page 146 — Find out when the Morey’s are leaving
146
Chapter 27
Comprehension questions
When Florida and Dallas climbed out of the sleeping bags, what did they smell?
Page 149 — Bacon
149
Why do you think Sairy and Tiller were out cooking bacon over a fire in the morning?
Page 151 — They found Florida and Dallas sleeping out trying to run away and came to them with the compliment of what a good idea it was to try out the equipment before their trips.
151
What was Tiller worried the kids had snuck out to get?
Page 155 — Their money
155
Chapter 28
Comprehension questions
When the twins were babies, why were they never placed in a home?
Page 158 — Mrs. Trepid would always keep them hidden and when someone saw them, she told them they were already taken, because she wanted them for herself
158
What made Mrs. Trepid change her mind about the twins?
Page 159 — They would howl and squirm; she didn’t have patience for them
159
How was Mrs. Trepid feeling about children now?
Page 160 — She didn’t know she could live through more children
160
Chapter 29
Comprehension questions
What’s the promise Dallas and Florida made to each other?
Page 163 — To never split up
163
Chapter 30
Comprehension questions
What was this chapter about?
Page 168 — The nightmares Dallas, Florida, Tiller and Sairy had about their trips
168
Chapter 31
Comprehension questions
What was Sairy’s bad-dream medicine?
Page 169 — Homemade peach ice cream on waffles
169
What is a rehearsal?
Page 170 — To practice something to make sure you get it right
170
Chapter 32
Comprehension questions
Why is the river called Hidden River?
Page 173 — It’s not on any maps
173
Why are there no mosquitos in the holler?
Page 175 — The bats eat them
175
Did Dallas or Sairy know if they were different without Florida or Tiller?
Page 178 — Not yet
178
Chapter 33
Comprehension questions
What does Mr. Trepid want Z to find?
Page 180 — Any special stones
180
Why was Mrs. Trepid so happy to get away from children’s home?
Page 183 — She’s tired of children
183
Chapter 34
Comprehension questions
How did Sairy respond to the way Mr. Dreep treated Dallas and Florida?
Page 185 — She said it was criminal
185
Chapter 35
Comprehension questions
How is Tiller different from Dallas?
Page 189 — Tiller complains a lot like Florida
189
What were Tiller and Sairy both starting to talk to the kids about as they were on their trips?
Page 191 — The different families they were with and how they treated them.
191
Chapter 36
Comprehension questions
What do you think, would it be harder to miss a mother you had loved, or miss a mother you had never known?
Page 194 — Listen to your child’s ideas
194
Chapter 37
Comprehension questions
Why do you think it is good that Dallas is dreamy?
Page 196 — He can dream up a really nice future for them and helps make things positive when they’re scary and dark
196
Chapter 38
Comprehension questions
Why do you think Z wanted to stall Trepid?
Page 197 — He didn’t want to hurt the Morey’s
197
Chapter 39
Comprehension questions
Tell me the times Dallas had cried.
Page 200 — After Joey died; sometimes at night at the home
200
Tell me the story of the piece of wood that Sairy and Tiller both grabbed at the same time.
Page 201 — Sairy wanted it but let Tiller have it. He put it on their dresser since he couldn’t decide what to make with it. He gave her permission to use it but couldn’t get herself to whittle with it. It’s still there now
201
Why did Sairy and Dallas call themselves worrywarts?
Page 205 — They were worrying Tiller and Florida miss them
205
Chapter 40
Comprehension questions
How did Florida and Dallas get their names?
Page 210 — The box they were in on the porch of the orphanage had travel pamphlets in it and Florida was on one that said “Fly to Florida” and Dallas was on the one that said “Destination: Dallas”
210
What helped Florida be able to whittle?
Page 211 — Not paying any attention to what she was whittling
211
Chapter 41
Comprehension questions
Explain what putting something on layaway means.
Page 214 — Have the store hold it for you, then you pay a little each month until it’s all paid for, then you get to take it home.
214
Why do you think Mr. Trepid was in the dealership looking at cars?
Page 217 — He wanted to buy one
217
What was this chapter about?
Page 217 — Mr. and Mrs. Trepid thinking about the investments Mr. Trepid was going to receive and what they could do with the money.
217
Chapter 42
Comprehension questions
Why was Dallas mad if the Trepids didn’t tell him when his real birthday was?
Page 219 — A person should know when their birthday was
219
Chapter 43
Comprehension questions
Why doesn’t Tiller get mad when Florida goofs up?
Page 222 — He’s too old to get mad or what she considers goofs aren’t what he considers goofs
222
What do you think Tiller meant when he said it was interesting having Dallas and Florida in Ruby Holler?
Page 223 — Good or bad- let your child give their opinion.
223
Chapter 44
Comprehension questions
Was Mr. Trepid happy with the report Z gave him?
Page 225 — No, because Z said he wasn’t done yet
225
Chapter 45
Comprehension questions
Tell me what happened when the boat hit the rock?
Page 228 — It tipped over and Tiller and Florida went in the water and got pushed under.
228
Chapter 46
Comprehension questions
What did Z put into his sack?
Page 230 — Sairy’s bank box
230
If he can also find Tiller’s box, what do you think he’s going to do with them?
Page 230 — Listen to your child’s ideas
230
Chapter 47
Comprehension questions
How did Dallas know that Florida was in trouble?
Page 231 — He had a bad feeling inside
231
Chapter 48
Comprehension questions
What were the Trepids doing in the jewelry store?
Page 232 — Looking at a necklace and watch they would like
232
Chapter 49
Comprehension questions
Why was Tiller regretting that he and Florida weren’t wearing their life jackets?
Page 239 — She couldn’t swim and they would have been keeping them afloat at that time instead of being pushed under the water.
239
Chapter 50
Comprehension questions
Who helped Sairy and Dallas find their way out of the woods?
Page 245 — Two boys hunting a deer
245
Do you think it was a good idea for Sairy and Dallas to leave their backpacks with the two boys?
Page 246 — No, they might steal their stuff
246
Chapter 51
Comprehension questions
Who lived in the cabin at the far side of the holler?
Page 247 — Z
247
What two confessions did he need to make to Sairy?
Page 249 — He was the one who got Dallas’s passport & that the twins could be his kids
249
What was the form Z read that told him the twins could be his?
Page 249 — Hospital record
249
Chapter 52
Comprehension questions
What happened to Florida in this chapter?
Page 252 — She found a log and was able to stay afloat as she called out for Tiller
252
Chapter 53
Comprehension questions
When Sairy and Dallas couldn’t find the diner the boys pointed them to, what did they realize and do?
Page 253 — They realized the boys lied and stole their packs and decided to keep hiking to find a town
253
What did Dallas finally spot?
Page 256 — A farm
256
Chapter 54
Comprehension questions
Why was Tiller holding his chest?
Page 256 — It felt tight
256
What did Tiller think about as he was underwater?
Page 258 — Rose his daughter and Sairy
258
Chapter 55
Comprehension questions
What did Z end up doing with the understone funds?
Page 261 — He kept them for safe keeping
261
What did the person who went to Kangadoon get?
Page 263 — Malaria
263
Chapter 56
Comprehension questions
Why do you think Florida was mad at Tiller for not saving her from the river?
Page 265 — Because he was supposed to protect her and keep her safe
265
How did Florida save Tiller?
Page 265 — Tied a rope to a tree and held on to it as she walked out to where he was
265
What does Florida mean instead of “artificial perspiration”?
Page 266 — Artificial Respiration
266
What do you think Tiller means when he says he has a “soggy heart”?
Page 267 — He’s having a heart attack
267
Chapter 57
Comprehension questions
Why did Z feel when Dallas asked him when the doctors were going to tell them about Tiller?
Page 269 — Responsible, important
269
Chapter 58
Comprehension questions
Who do you think the be-nice-to-orphans brownies are for?
Page 272 — Mr. Trepid
272
What was Mr. Trepid going to do with the Ruby Holler treasure map?
Page 274 — Try and find Sairy and Tiller’s understone funds
274
Chapter 59
Comprehension questions
How did Mrs. Trepid feel about Mr. Trepid leaving her alone with the kids for the day?
Page 275 — Unhappy; mad;
275
Chapter 60
Comprehension questions
What did Sairy and Tiller discuss in this chapter?
Page 278 — Boxton Creek Home; all of the families Dallas and Florida went to; what Z wanted to talk to Tiller about; the Trepid’s coming
278
Chapter 61
Comprehension questions
What did Mr. Trepid take with him to Ruby Holler?
Page 283 — Shovel, trowel, sack, map
283
What are some things Mr. Trepid found while digging?
Page 284 — Brownies; lizards; mash blackberries; stinging nettles; mousetrap; leaves & berries; etc.
284
Chapter 62
Comprehension questions
Where was Mr. Trepid going to take the gems to be appraised?
Page 289 — The jeweler he went to look at the watch
289
Chapter 63
Comprehension questions
What does it mean to get pictures developed?
Page 292 — Get them printed so you have the actual picture
292
How much did the jewels cost that Mr. Trepid found?
Page 292 — $1.99
292
What was Florida worried about at the end of the chapter?
Page 293 — That Sairy and Tiller were going to get rid of them
293
Chapter 64
Comprehension questions
Where did Mr. Trepid test drive the new Cadillac to?
Page 295 — The jewelry store
295
How did the salesman react toward Mr. Trepid when he saw the fake gems on the counter?
Page 297 — Polite; stared at them and cleared his throat; asked if he could talk to his manager; chewed on his lip
297
Chapter 65
Comprehension questions
Why did Dallas begin packing up his things?
Page 300 — He thought Sairy and Tiller were going to take them back to the home
300
How did Florida feel about leaving now?
Page 301 — She didn’t want to; she wanted to say good-bye
301
Why was Sairy hesitant to keep the twins?
Page 303 — She didn’t know if staying in the holler was the best thing for them
303
Chapter 66
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Florida want to leave Ruby Holler?
Page 307 — She liked it there; The Morey’s were the nicest couple so far; who would help out with things around the farm while Tiller was getting back his strength.
307
What were Dallas and Florida hoping would happen when they fell asleep in the fort made by trees?
Page 309 — That Sairy and Tiller would find them like last time.
309
How did Dallas and Florida know that Sairy and Tiller found them?
Page 310 — When they woke up, they smelled bacon
310
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