Title of Book: The Library Card

Author: Jerry Spinelli

Fiction

Level R 148 pages

Major Characters / Minor Characters / Setting / Summarized Problem or Solution
Mongoose (Jamie Hill), Weasel (Bobby Morgan) / April Mendez, Brenda, Sonseray, Jack,
Mrs. Pocopson / Around the town where Mongoose and Weasel live / Mongoose and Weasel are convinced that rules should be broken, but the power of a library card makes them think twice about their lives and choices. The library card affects other’s choices too.
Chapter / 7, 8, 9 pg. 26-35
Key Vocabulary / meandered pg.26
admire pg.27
snatched pg.28 / reviewed
bitter pg. 29
canyon / proffered pg. 31
seethe pg. 32
scowl pg. 34 / clamped
gasping pg.35
Questions / 1.  Describe the problems Weasel and Mongoose have at the beginning of chapter 7. Why doesn’t Mongoose do what Weasel has done?
2.  Why do you think that Mongoose painted one brick with the word “Cicada”? Also, why did he bury it with dirt after he painted it?
3.  Mongoose lies to Weasel on pg. 30. Is it alright for Mongoose to lie to his friend? Why or why not?
4.  What does the librarian mean when she asks, “…are you finished with it”? Why do you think that the librarian won’t take the “I Wonder” book back from Mongoose?
5.  Does Weasel have a right to be angry with Mongoose? What makes you think so?
6.  Why, if he is feeling hurt, wouldn’t Weasel just TELL Mongoose that he felt hurt?
7.  Should Weasel resent his friend Mongoose’s passion and interest in learning, or should he support his friend? Why or why not?
Chapter / 10, 11, 12 pg. 36-52
Key Vocabulary / pooled pg. 36
mincing
looming / massively
wrung pg.37
avoid / silhouette pg. 39
emboldened
nebula pg.41 / exception
firmly pg.43
asphalt / scoff
eager pg.45
sleek pg.46 / intention pg. 47
wary pg.48
smirk / contrast pg. 49
perk
colossal pg.50 / notation
Questions / 1.  Describe what happened to Weasel in his mind on pages 26 & 37, compared to what happened in reality.
2.  If your friend bossed you around the way that Weasel bosses Mongoose around on page 38, what would you do about it? What does Mongoose do about it?
3.  Why is Weasel so rude to the librarian who invites him into the library, and the man on the roof who kindly asks Weasel questions? Why wouldn’t Weasel be kind in return?
4.  As you read page 42-45, make a two column chart. Put Weasel’s name on the top of one column, and Mongoose’s name on the top of the other column. Finally, list all of the thoughts and quotes from either character in their column.
5.  Look up the word “resent”. How can this word help you to explain Weasel’s feelings about Mongoose’s graffiti on the high school football field?