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
Why didn’t Jack and Annie want to go to baseball tryouts?
Page 4 — They felt they were terrible at baseball
4
Where were jack and Annie traveling too this time?
Page 7 — Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York
7
Why were Jack and Annie excited to go there and play baseball?
Page 8 — They would have magical gray baseball caps to help them be good at baseball
8
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
What’s a bat boy?
Page 11 — Someone who helps a baseball team during a game
11
Who helped Jack and Annie get to Ebbets Field?
Page 16 — Some twins named Olive and Otis
16
Why was there a huge crowd outside the baseball stadium?
Page 19 — There was a baseball game that afternoon
19
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
How do the twins usually watch baseball games since they can’t pay to get into the stadium?
Page 22 — Lay on the sidewalk and peek under the gate
22
Give two differences from a baseball game at Frog Creek in 2017 from what Jack and Annie saw in Ebbets Field in 1947?
Page 24 — What people wore to the game and half of the stadium was filled with white people the other half had black people
24
Who do you think was the baseball player Jack and Annie saw signing autographs?
Page 24 — Jackie Robinson
24
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t the Braves team ignore Jack and Annie?
Page 28 — Bat boys never bother the players or get in their way
28
Name three tasks Jack and Annie needed to do as they acted as bat boys?
Page 30 — Hung uniforms in lockers; wiped off equipment and lined up the shoes on the benches; pushed the trunk of bats out to the dugout; unloaded bats and placed them on shelves; took the first aid kit, catcher’s gear, and chewing gum to the dugout; filled jugs with water; took towels and baseball to the dugout
30
What’s the national anthem?
Page 32 — A song we sing in the United States to show respect and appreciation for our country; The Star-Spangled Banner
32
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What were Jack’s and Annie’s responsibilities while the Braves were up to bat?
Page 36 — Jack’s: Retrieve foul balls, gave new baseballs to the umpire always making sure he had three, had to count the baseballs; Annie’s: picked up bats that the players dropped and put them on the rack
36
Why were the people in the stands heckling the black player?
Page 41 — Because he was a different skin color
41
What happened to Jack’s cap?
Page 42 — It blew off in the wind and some kid jumped who had from the stands and grabbed it
42
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What did Jack and Annie do to confuse the security guard and manager?
Page 47 — They took turns wearing the hat to try to prove they were bat boys
47
Why was Jack worried about people seeing him as they walked out of the stadium?
Page 48 — He was embarrassed and humiliated
48
Give a descriptive word to describe the manager and security guard.
Page 48 — Intolerant; angry; impatient
48
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Who helped Jack and Annie after they got kicked out of the stadium?
Page 51 — Olive and Otis
51
How did the Dodger’s team get their name?
Page 53 — Fans need to dodge streetcars to get to the ballpark
53
Where did Otis and Olive take Jack and Annie to hear the game?
Page 55 — To their grannies’ house
55
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Why were the grannies so fervent on Jackie hitting the ball?
Page 57 — They were also people of color and wanted Jackie to be successful
57
Why was this baseball game so important?
Page 60 — Jackie Robinson was the first black player allowed to play with white players in major league baseball and he made history that game
60
Why were the grannies so surprised to see Jack and Annie in their home?
Page 61 — Jack and Annie were the first white people ever to come into their home
61
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
What was significant about the twin’s great-great-granny?
Page 64 — She was 101 years old and born a slave
64
What’s the advice Great-Great-Granny Beck gave to Jack and Annie?
Page 66 — Always keep your eyes on the good and always keep your self-respect
66
Why was it strange for Jack and Annie to be the first white people to go into the grannies’ home?
Page 69 — During the history of the United States there had been a lot of racism against black people, but Jackie Robinson helped begin to change it
69
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What made Jack decide he wanted to try out for baseball?
Page 75 — After reading about Jackie Robinson, he realized he didn’t care so much what people thought of him
75
What was the real reason Morgan sent Jack and Annie to Brooklyn?
Page 75 — To help them learn to be brave and keep going
75
Downloads
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Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
Additional files
Download one reading section
A small printout with all the resources for the selected section.
