Whirligig

The questions inside

One per chapter, across all 9 chapters — every question is editable before you print.

1. In Chapter 1, Brent wants very badly to fit in at the party. What choices does he make, and how do those choices lead to serious consequences?
2. In Chapter 2, people in Weeksboro see one of Brent’s whirligigs. How does the whirligig affect someone’s thoughts, feelings, or choices?
3. In Chapter 3, Brent begins to understand what happened after the crash. How do you think guilt changes the way Brent sees himself and the world around him?
4. In Chapter 4, the story shows new characters in Miami who notice a whirligig. What does this chapter show about how one small object can matter to people Brent has never met?
5. In Chapter 5, Brent is working on his journey and learning new skills. What does the word “apprentice” mean in this chapter, and how is Brent like an apprentice?
6. In Chapter 6, characters in Bellevue react to a whirligig in their own way. What message or feeling do they seem to get from it, and why?
7. In Chapter 7, Brent keeps building whirligigs in different places. How is Brent changing as a character from the beginning of the book to this point?
8. In Chapter 8, the San Diego whirligig becomes part of another person’s life. What connection do you see between Brent’s actions and the lives of strangers?
9. In Chapter 9, Brent’s journey comes to an end. What do you think is the most important lesson Brent learns, and how can that lesson connect to your own life?

Example answers

Printed at the front of the booklet, so your reader can see what a strong answer looks like.

In Chapter 1, Brent wants very badly to fit in at the party. What choices does he make, and how do those choices lead to serious consequences?

I think Brent makes choices because he feels embarrassed and lonely. He drinks even though he should not, and then he drives when he is upset. Those choices cause a terrible crash and hurt another family forever. This chapter shows me that trying to impress people is not worth making unsafe decisions.

In Chapter 5, Brent is working on his journey and learning new skills. What does the word “apprentice” mean in this chapter, and how is Brent like an apprentice?

I think an apprentice is someone who learns by practicing and by watching others. Brent is like an apprentice because he is not an expert at making whirligigs at first. He has to figure out tools, designs, and how to keep going when the work is hard. He is also learning how to be a better person while he builds.

In Chapter 9, Brent’s journey comes to an end. What do you think is the most important lesson Brent learns, and how can that lesson connect to your own life?

I think Brent learns that one action can affect many people, even people he does not know. At first, his action causes pain, but later his whirligigs bring hope and beauty to others. This connects to my life because my choices can also help or hurt people around me. It reminds me to think before I act.