Better than Weird

By Anna Kerz

  1. Who is Aaron’s primary caregiver? Gran (1)
  2. What piece of clothing does Aaron forget? Underwear (4)
  3. What does Tufan and some of the other kids call Aaron? Weird and Aaron Cantwait (4)
  4. Who is Aaron’s big brother? Paul (5)
  5. What did Paul tell Aaron to do so that he could organize his life? Make a list (5)
  6. Name two things on Aaron’s to do list that he hopes to do with his dad. Hit a homerun, ride a bike, rollerblade, skateboard, kick a soccer ball, guitar, go skiing, play baseball, visit the dinosaur exhibit at the museum, eat popcorn and watch all the Star Wars movies, and visit the Science Center (6)
  7. Who is Buddy? Aaron’s toad (7)
  8. What does Buddy eat? Worms (7)
  9. What projects do Jeremy and Aaron do together? The announcements, clean the fish tank, and a science project
  10. Who does Jeremy like? Karima (10)
  11. How does Ms. Masilo’s smile confuse Aaron? He notices that she smiles with her mouth, but she also seems mad. (13)
  12. How does Aaron make Tufan mad on the announcements? He leaves the intercom open, and everyone hears Tufan’s grandmother. (16)
  13. In the beginning of the book who protects Aaron from Tufan? Jeremy (20)
  14. What does Aaron do to Tufan at recess on accident? He kicks a ball into him. (23)
  15. What is Karen, Aaron’s counselor, trying to teach Aaron to do with faces? Read them (24)
  16. Where does Aaron usually go during music class? He goes to the library. (31)
  17. Why doesn’t Ms. Masilo want Aaron in the concert? She’s afraid he’ll spoil the show. (33)
  18. Why does Mr. Collins try to help Aaron? He has a brother like Aaron. (34)
  19. What happened in choir practice to Aaron? He fell off the riser. (37)
  20. When Aaron turns in his work, what does it look like? It’s full of puncture holes, nibbled, and has pictures in the margins. (45)
  21. What sport does Aaron play? Volleyball (45)
  22. How does Aaron embarrass Karima? He tells her friends that Jeremy loves her. (46)
  23. What team does Mr. Collins coach? The skipping team (it’s jump roping.) (47)
  24. What advice does Jeremy give Aaron? Stop laughing when things aren’t funny, act more grown up, and don’t talk so much. (51-52)
  25. Name two things on Aaron’s “How to Stop Being Weird” list. Don’t laugh like a hyena, grow up, look people in the eye, and shut the heck up. (53)
  26. What does Aaron do to the mud puddles that makes Tufan mad? He jumps in them and splashes muddy water on him. (56)
  27. Who bullies Aaron? Tufan (57)
  28. Why won’t Aaron get out of the mud puddle? Tufan told him to stay put. (57)
  29. What happened to Jeremy’s dad? He died. (62)
  30. What happened to Aaron’s dad? He abandoned Aaron when Aaron’s mom died. (65)
  31. When Aaron brought home the mealworms, where did he store them? In Gran’s bran flakes (65)
  32. How long as Gran been taking care of Aaron? Eight years (65)
  33. Who helps fix up an aquarium for Buddy? Paul (68)
  34. What does Gran tell Aaron his father will do when he comes back? Aaron’s dad will hug him and tickle him. (75)
  35. What is the one thing Aaron is never careless about? His mother’s quilt (77)
  36. How is Aaron’s squirrel different from all of the others? The squirrel has a black tip on its tail. (79)
  37. How does Tufan hurt Aaron? He hits him with ice balls and causes Aaron to break his arm and hurt his head. (88)
  38. Who does Aaron see in the hospital? Tufan’s grandmother (96)
  39. Why doesn’t Gran have a TV? She got rid of it because Aaron wouldn’t stop watching it. (98)
  40. Who suspects Aaron is being bullied? Karen, his counselor (100)
  41. What’s wrong with Aaron’s desk? It’s a total mess. (107)
  42. How does Aaron get Tufan to stop bullying him? He stands up to him, and tells him he doesn’t feel sorry for him. (109)
  43. When Aaron is cleaning the tank with Jeremy, how does he hurt Jeremy? He hits him in the nose with his cast. (116)
  44. Instead of telling Mr. Collins what happened to his nose, what does Jeremy do? He says he has a nosebleed so that Aaron doesn’t get in trouble. (116)
  45. What happened to the fish tank? Aaron pulled it down on top of himself and Jeremy. (116)
  46. What does Jeremy tell Aaron the day the fish tank fell? That he was through being friends with Aaron. (119)
  47. How does Aaron behave when he’s upset at school? He climbs under his desk, rocks, and makes noises. (121)
  48. Why doesn’t Ms. Masilo want Tufan in the performance? His voice is cracking. (123)
  49. What does Ms. Masilo say Tufan and Aaron can do in the performance? They can ask people to turn off their cell phones. (123)
  50. Who helps Tufan and Aaron come up with something for the performance? Mr. Collins (124)
  51. What is Tufan going to do in the performance? He’s going to play drums. (125)
  52. Where does Aaron go at home when he’s upset? He hides in the closet. (129)
  53. What is Aaron afraid his dad is going to feel? That Aaron is weird. (131)
  54. What does Liam bring to Aaron for a surprise? His wife Sophie and she’s pregnant. (133)
  55. Who does Aaron say is his mother? Gran (134)
  56. What is Aaron and Liam’s favorite dinner? Spaghetti (135)
  57. What girl name did Sophie pick out for the baby? Frances (139)
  58. What did Aaron do with his mom when she was alive? He listened to her read/tell stories. (140)
  59. What kind of baby was Aaron? He cried a lot, didn’t want to be touched, and sounded as if he were in pain. (140)
  60. What is Sophie’s job? She works in a hospital (she may be a doctor, but it doesn’t say it literally) (145)
  61. How did Liam hurt his leg? He was drunk and cut his leg. (146)
  62. What was Liam’s job in Dawson City? He was mining for gold. (147)
  63. What gift does Liam give Aaron? A key chain (148)
  64. What is on Aaron’s key chain? A piece of fool’s gold (pyrite) (148)
  65. What was the Great Escape? The worms escaped from Aaron’s jar. (151)
  66. What secret has Gran been keeping? She has cancer. (154)
  67. Aaron says he’ll never be a silk purse, but he could be a what? A good pigskin wallet (162)
  68. Why did Sophie have to go to the hospital? She slipped (173)
  69. Why does Jeremy forgive Aaron? Jeremy decides the fish tank will make a great story one day. (179)
  70. What did Aaron’s dad buy for Aaron and Gran? A computer with a webcam. (182)
  71. How long are the summer days in Dawson? The sun doesn’t set. It just gets a little grey around 2 AM. (191)
  72. How does Sophie do her shopping? Online or from catalogs. (192)
  73. Why didn’t Liam come home for Aaron? He was running from him and drinking heavily. (202)
  74. What story/lie did Liam tell Aaron about his leg? That he was confronted by a bear and the bear hit his head. (203)
  75. What kind of hat does Mr. Collins give Aaron to wear? He gives him a fool’s hat. (208)
  76. What will the bells on the fool’s hat remind Aaron to do? Be still. (209)
  77. Who helps Aaron tie his hat? Tufan (210)
  78. What is Aaron’s rhyme about? Turning off cell phones and being quiet during the performance. (212)
  79. What kind of poem does Ms. Evans read to Aaron’s class? A poem by a man from Dawson (Robert Service) (217)
  80. What does Aaron recite to himself at the end of the book? Aaron Can Wait (218)