About
Griffin Bing is in big trouble when a Super Bowl ring disappears from his middle school's display case, replaced by Griffin's retainer, and the more he and his friends investigate, the worse his situation becomes.
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
Describe the new principal at Griffin’s middle school.
Page 1 — Mr. Egan was a successful high school football coach before becoming the principal; he believed in working hard and doing hard things; wasn’t warm and accepting; knew about Griffin’s plans and told him he is watching him; intolerant; doesn’t like excuses
1
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Why does Darren Vader like the new principal?
Page 14 — He’s on the football team and is on his good side since he plays football
14
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Why are Griffin’s friends hesitant to send the emails?
Page 26 — They don’t want to get into trouble with the new principal
26
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Summarize this chapter.
Page 28 — Luthor was on the hunt to find Griffin’s retainer and seeing Darren’s mouth guard during a football game, Luthor thought it was Griffin’s retainer and tackled him and took it; Savannah, Griffin and Pitch were blamed for trying to harm Darren
28
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Predict what was in Savannah’s backpack that agitated Luthor and Cleopatra.
Page 38 — Listen to your child’s answer
38
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Explain the crime Griffin was accused of.
Page 46 — Stealing the Super Bowl ring in the display case; the retainer he had been looking for was in the display case instead of the ring
46
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Why don’t Mr. Egan, Officer Vizzini, or Celia White believe that Griffin is innocent?
Page 50 — He’s got a history of breaking the law and his reputation is catching up to him
50
Why does the judge think it’s a good idea for Griffin and his friends to take a break from one another?
Page 56 — She’s implying they’re not good influences for each other
56
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
List three things that describe the alternate school Griffin is attending and how does it contrast to the public school his friends attend?
Page 60 — 1. Grades 7-12; 2. No bullying because there were spies everywhere; 3. Classes were a joke- teachers didn’t teach, just kept order; differences: his school doesn’t include high school grades; there is usually bullying at a public school; the teachers teach at a public-school
60
Describe Shank and how does he think he is a good friend to Griffin.
Page 73 — Sheldon Brickhaus; 8th grader; muscles and thick neck; at the JFK; he won’t leave Griffin alone; he thinks he’s being a good friend because he is trying to help Griffin feel welcome at the school
73
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
How did Griffin’s plan fail?
Page 81 — Mr. Egan saw him and he didn’t go through the metal detector; it’s also possible he has the wrong suspects
81
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
How did the judge make it difficult for Griffin to find who framed him?
Page 84 — She put him on house arrest so he can’t leave his house unless he goes to school, doctor appointments or court
84
What would you do if you were one of Griffin’s friends? How would you try to help him?
Page 88 — Listen to your child’s answer
88
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
What did Griffin’s friends do?
Page 94 — They made a plan
94
What is their plan?
Page 94 — a stakeout on Dr. Egan’s house to prove he has the ring
94
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
How did the plan go wrong?
Page 104 — It started raining so the Egan family came home from their walk earlier than anticipated. Pitch is stuck on the roof and Ben is in a box on the porch!
104
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
How did Pitch and Ben get out of their predicament?
Page 107 — Savannah took Luthor outside and had him bark. His bark is so loud, it covered up any noises they would have made getting away from the house
107
Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
What do you think Mr. Egan’s reaction to Logan will be?
Page 117 — Listen to your child’s answer
117
Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
What conclusions did the kids make about the jewelry box?
Page 119 — It has the ring; Mr. Egan is going to take the ring somewhere, maybe he’s going to sell it, maybe he’ll melt it down
119
Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
Why is Mr. Egan’s errand to the jewelers alarming?
Page 129 — The kids think he is taking the ring to the jewelers
129
Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
Why will the kids have consequences after what’s happened in this chapter?
Page 136 — Mr. Egan took the box to the jewelers and as he opened the box, the kids opened the door to the store and took pictures. They were caught red handed spying on him
136
Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
What word would you choose to describe Griffin in this chapter and why?
Page 137 — Listen to your child’s answer
137
Chapter 19
Comprehension questions
What lead did the kids find after arriving at school early?
Page 146 — The custodian might have the ring
146
What brought them to that conclusion?
He was alone in the building when the ring went missing
Chapter 20
Comprehension questions
Why has Griffin given up?
Page 153 — He can’t do anything to prove himself innocent and they don’t have any leads; Savannah’s explanation makes him more discouraged
153
Chapter 21
Comprehension questions
What brought Griffin hope in this chapter?
Page 161 — Shank brought Savannah‘s pack rat idea to life, thinking it might be a possibility and that he could be the one to help find the missing ring
161
Compare something Griffin and Shank have in common.
Page 163 — They are both planners
163
Chapter 22
Comprehension questions
Do you agree with Griffin that he should be a part of this next plan? Why, or why not?
Page 168 — Listen to your child’s answer
168
Chapter 23
Comprehension questions
How do you think Griffin will distract his parents on the night of the plan?
Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 24
Sometimes you have to cut off one branch to save the whole tree; Griffin is the bad branch and his friends are the tree
Comprehension questions
Define a metaphor.
A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for literary effect, refers to one thing by mentioning another.
What metaphor did Celia White use on page 181 and what is she comparing it to?
Chapter 25
Comprehension questions
What is Rendezvous in Paris?
Page 189 — A perfume Shank used to lure the rat into the trap
189
How do you know it’s perfume?
Page 185 — Shank’s mom wore it one morning
185
Chapter 26
Comprehension questions
How has Shank been reliable to Griffin and his friends during this operation?
Page 193 — He was on time; brought the equipment and lure needed; was patient at catching the rat; stayed on the rat even after tripping
193
Predict where the metal door leads to.
Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 27
Comprehension questions
What role does Pitch play on the team?
Page 205 — She’s the climber
205
What role would want if you were Griffon Bing’s friend?
Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 28
Comprehension questions
What is the main idea of this chapter.
Page 208 — The friends found the rat’s nest and in the nest was the ring. Ben was brave, Darren interrupted the plan, and Mr. Egan witnessed how Darren was guilty and how the friends found and saved the ring
208
Chapter 29
Comprehension questions
What was Mr. Egan’s reaction once the ring was found?
Page 216 — He apologized to Griffin and he took the blame for accusing Griffin by judging him for his past
216
Chapter 30
Comprehension questions
Why did the principal race like a madman to get Griffin home?
Page 220 — Because the anklet Griffin was wearing alerted the police that he wasn’t home. He’d be in big trouble if he wasn’t there when the police arrived
220
Chapter 31
Comprehension questions
How does this story end?
Page 231 — Shank is given a chance to attend Griffin’s school and is successful with his grades and on the football team; Pitch takes Darren’s place on the field and scores a touchdown, it doesn’t count, but she got to live out her dream
231
What important lesson did Griffin learn in this chapter?
Page 234 — More important than a plan was having the right friends
234
What did you like about this story?
Listen to your child’s answer
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