About
When the umpire at the baseball game fund-raiser is accused of stealing a collection of autographed baseballs, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose try to prove his innocence.
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 opening scene in this book.
Page 1 — The kids are at a fundraising ball game to raise funds for children with disabilities; Ruth Rose and Josh have made a bet on who is going to win
1
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Why does Pete look guilty at the end of this chapter?
Page 12 — He went to get allergy medicine in the clubhouse and hasn’t come back yet, so it means he could have smashed the case with the baseballs and made a run with the signed baseballs
12
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
On page 15, Ellie described what Mr. Pocket looked like after speaking with the kids. What is it and what does that look like?
Draw a picture of a Mr. Pocket in the figurative sense of her description
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
How likely will the kids find out something about Pete on the Internet? Explain.
Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Why do the kids think the man in the newspaper article is Pete?
Page 26 — The middle name of the man is Peter, and he has a very unusual last name, so it is likely him
26
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Why do you think Pete isn’t talking?
Page 36 — He’s guilty; he’s protecting someone; Listen to your child’s answer
36
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Describe Pete’s countenance in the jail cell.
Page 38 — Discouraged, quiet, dejected, hopeless
38
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What have you learned about Pete in this chapter?
Page 52 — He’s honest; takes care of his younger brother because parents died in a car crash; responsible
52
Choose a word you would use to describe him. Explain.
Page 53 — Protector-for trying to help his brother; selfless; loving
53
Pete taking the blame for his brother isn’t necessarily helping and protecting him. List two ways it’s hurting Buddy.
Buddy doesn’t learn to be accountable for his actions; when he does finally have to pay for a consequence, he won’t know how to deal with it
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Was Buddy’s explanation to Officer Fallon enough to get him out of jail? Why or why not?
Page 60 — No; they need to catch the thief and get the baseballs back
60
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Officer Fallon needed to search Buddy’s trailer to see if he was telling the truth about the stolen baseballs. Do you think Officer Fallon will find them?
Page 64 — Listen to your child’s answer
64
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Describe one emotion Buddy is feeling in this chapter and explain why.
Page 67 — Hopeful- Officer Fallon believes him; hopeful – to stay in Green Lawn instead of going to Florida; impressed- he likes green Lawn and how nice people are
67
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
How did the Internet help them find the thief?
Page 76 — They went to a website to see if they could purchase the baseballs back; they found one that looked like Mr. Pocket’s baseball and they emailed the seller; the seller responded with their physical address to send the money, and it was in Green Lawn
76
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
Do you agree with Officer Fallon, that lying is never right, even if you’re trying to protect someone? Why or why not?
Listen to your child’s answer
What did you like about this book?
Listen to your child’s answer
Downloads
All the book’s resources, or just the ones you need, ready to read or print.
Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
Download one reading section
A small printout with all the resources for the selected section.
