Capture the Flag by Kate Messner Reader’s Rally Questions
Jim Brown – Bethesda ES
1. Who is the author of the book, Capture the Flag?
Kate Messner, title page.
2. In the book, Capture the Flag, who was the director of the Smithsonian Museum of American History? Erma Emma Jones, p. 1.
3. In the book, Capture the Flag, what does Jeff Brodie do at the Smithsonian Museum of American History? Curator, p. 1.
4. In the book, Capture the Flag, what problem did Jeff Brodie have on his clearance list? “Wait, I have four on the clearance list. Not five.” P. 3
5. In the book, Capture the Flag, why was the flag historically important?
“So, this is the actual flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner”, p. 5.
6. In the book, Capture the Flag, who was Mary Pickersgill?

Seamstress “(born Mary Young; February 12, 1776 – October 4, 1857), was the maker of the Star Spangled Banner Flag hoisted over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore”, p. 4.
7. In the book, Capture the Flag, in what grade were the three kids?
Seventh (7th) Grade, p. 8.
8. In the book, Capture the Flag, besides being in 7th grade, what unusual thing did the three kids have in common? “Ancestors who had crafted some of the most stunning artwork and conceived of some of the greatest inventions in history”, “Relatives who had taken a sacred oath, made a promise to protect the world’s artifacts and passed that promise down through the generations.” p. 8.

9. In the book, Capture the Flag, what important jewelry did the family members wear?
“. . . silver jewelry in the shape of an ancient jaguar goddess”, p. 9.
10. In the book, Capture the Flag, what state was Anna Revere-Hobbs from?
Vermont, p. 9.
11. In the book, Capture the Flag, what is Anna’s father’s job?
Senator, p. 9.
12. In the book, Capture the Flag, what was José McGilligan’s mother’s job?
Textile scientist on the Star Spangled Banner restoration project, p. 10.
13. In the book, Capture the Flag, with whom did Henry Thorn go to the flag restoration part? Aunt Lucinda, p. 11.
14. In the book, Capture the Flag, how did Jose’s mother wear her jaguar jewelry?
“Mrs. McGilligan wore her favorite dangly earrings with the silver jaguars”, p. 10.
15. In the book, Capture the Flag, how did Henry Thorn’s Aunt Lucinda wear her jaguar jewelry? “. . . and a silver bracelet with some big leaping cat charm . . .” p. 11.
16. In the book, Capture the Flag, why is Henry moving from Vermont to Boston?
Henry’s dad is taking a job at Boston University, p. 12.
17. In the book, Capture the Flag, what state is Anna from?

Vermont, p. 18.
18. In the book, Capture the Flag, what book was José McGilligan’s favorite?
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, p. 20.
19. In the book, Capture the Flag, who did Henry, José and Anna meet at the airport?
Senator Robert Snickerbottom, candidate for president, p. 22.
20. In the book, Capture the Flag, what did Senator Snickerbottom give the kids?
Tootsie Rolls (the big ones), p. 23.
21. In the book, Capture the Flag, where did Senator Snickerbottom keep his Tootsie Rolls? “Tucked under the hatband every few inches was a Tootsie Roll . . .” p. 21.
22. In the book, Capture the Flag, what was José McGilligan’s father’s job?
“. . . my father is a TV meteorologist in Vermont.” P. 23.
23. In the book, Capture the Flag, what is the name of the silver jaguar organization?
“The Silver Jaguar Society, p. 25.

24. In the book, Capture the Flag, what is the name of the stolen flag?
The Star Spangled Banner, p. 27.
25. In the book, Capture the Flag, who was José’s famous ancestor?
Frida Kahlo, p. 31.
26. In the book, Capture the Flag, what was Sinan’s dog’s name?
Hammurabi, p. 50.
27. In the book, Capture the Flag, how are Sinan’s parents employed?
The Sounds for a Small Planet Orchestra, p. 50.
28. In the book, Capture the Flag, what instruments do Sinan’s parents play?
Tubas, p. 50.
29. In the book, Capture the Flag, how big is the Star Spangled Banner?
34 feet by 34 feet, p. 61.
30. In the book, Capture the Flag, what was the “snake arm man’s” name?
Claude Pickersgill, p. 68.
31. In the book, Capture the Flag, who did Senator Snickerbottom implicate (accuse) in the flag’s theft? the orchestra, Sound for a Small Planet, p. 83
32. In the book, Capture the Flag, what are the Serpentine Princes?
A gang of international art thieves, p. 78.
33. In the book, Capture the Flag, who is Vincent Goosen?
Leader of the Serpentine Princes, p. 78.
34. In the book, Capture the Flag, how did the kids get to the baggage area from the terminal? They rode the conveyor belt (at the American Airlines gate), p. 112.
35. In the book, Capture the Flag, what did Anna hear the men doing to the flag from the conveyor belt? Tearing the flag, p. 126.
36. In the book, Capture the Flag, what member of the Serpentine Princes was formerly a member of the Silver Jaguar Society? Vincent Goosen, p. 148.
37. In the book, Capture the Flag, what member of the Serpentine Princes was a descendant of the Dutch painter, Rembrandt? Vincent Goosen, p. 148.
38. In the book, Capture the Flag, where did Senator Snickerbottom tell Anna’s father that a piece of the flag was found? on a tuba case from the orchestra, p. 153.
39. In the book, Capture the Flag, what made the clinking sound that José and Anna heard? clamps that held the flag at the Smithsonian, p.
40. In the book, Capture the Flag, what did José and Anna steal at the airport to get to the baggage area? Airport cart, p. 164.
41. In the book, Capture the Flag, what did Senator Snickerbottom break at the American Airlines desk to help his aide sneak into the baggage area?

A computer, p. 171.
42. In the book, Capture the Flag, what did Anna toss to Henry while being held by Snickerbottom? Her camera, p. 185.
43. In the book, Capture the Flag, who grabbed Anna in the baggage area?
Senator Snickerbottom, p. 184.
44. In the book, Capture the Flag, why did Snake-Arm have a snake tattoo on his arm?
VSAH Virginia Society of Amateur Herpetologists, p. 192.
45. In the book, Capture the Flag, what organization did Anna recognize that Snake Arm belonged to? Silver Jaguar Society, p. 192.
46. In the book, Capture the Flag, what was Claude Pickersgill wearing that Anna recognized? A silver jaguar on a ring, p. 192.
47. In the book, Capture the Flag, what did José drop on Snickerbottom?
his backpack (8 books, 7 Harry Potters and a Bartlett’s Quotations), p. 197.
48. In the book, Capture the Flag, who helped Henry and the kids take the ULD (Unit Loading Device) to the plane? Snake-Arm, p. 200.
49. In the book, Capture the Flag, what did Henry drive to the tarmac (and the airplane)? The ULD or Unit Loading Device, p. 200.
50. In the book, Capture the Flag, who found the kids at the airplane?
George Malbut, (U.S. Airways), p. 203.
51. In the book, Capture the Flag, how did Henry record Senator Snickerbottom?

With the Game Prism, p. 204.
52. In the book, Capture the Flag, who was inspired to write a poem/song about the Star Spangled Banner? Francis Scott Key, p. 207.
53. In the book, Capture the Flag, where did the Star Spangled Banner flag fly during a battle? At Fort McHenry in Baltimore, p. 207.
54. In the book, Capture the Flag, what was Robert Snickerbottom’s skinny little brother’s name? Earl, p. 208.
55. In the book, Capture the Flag, who was the skinny security guard with Senator Snickerbottom? Earl Snickerbottom, p. 208.
56. In the book, Capture the Flag, why did Robert Snickerbottom take the flag?
Robert Snickerbottom stole the flag to be a hero, p. 209.
57. In the book, Capture the Flag, who was arrested for masterminding the theft of the flag? Senator Robert Snickerbottom, p. 214.
58. In the book, Capture the Flag, what did Anna ask Mrs. Molly Revere-Hobbs?
to join the Silver Jaguar Society, p. 219.
59. In the book, Capture the Flag, when did Mrs. Molly Revere-Hobbs tell Anna she could join the Silver Jaguar Society? When she turns 18, p. 221.
60. In the book, Capture the Flag, why was the Silver Jaguar Society founded?

. . . to protect treasures from the (Spanish) Conquistadores, p. 223.
61. In the book, Capture the Flag, why was the Silver Jaguar chosen as a symbol for the society? “It was originally named for Ixchel (Esh CHEL) the Myan goddess of creativity”, “Her symbol is the jaguar.” p. 223.
62. In the book, Capture the Flag, who was Mary Pickersgill’s great, great, great, grandson? Claude Pickersgill (Snake-Arm), p. 224.
63. In the book, Capture the Flag, what famous creative person was Henry related to?
Grace Wisher, an indentured servant who helped Mary Pickersgill sew the flag, p. 227.
64. In the book, Capture the Flag, what did Sinan sketch in his drawing pad?
Pictures of figures of speech, p. 50.
65. In the book, Capture the Flag,
66. In the book, Hide and Seek!what prominent adversaries were on the golden cup in the display case? Jaguar and serpent (symbols of the Silver Jaguar Society and the Serpentine Princes), p. Sneak peak at Hide and Seek!, no page number (p. 235).
67. In the book, Hide and Seek!,what did José’s mother tell the others about the golden cup in the display case? It’s a fake! p. Sneak peak at Hide and Seek, no page number (p. 237).