Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. “Eggplant” and “Char” (Chapter 1)

2. Lemons (Chapter 2)

3. Farmington Hills (Chapter 3)

4. A poker chip (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. First, there are the financial impacts of his alcoholism and gambling addiction, which have driven them into poverty and caused his family to be evicted from their home many times. Second, it also takes an emotional toll on Genesis. She recalls the memory of when her dad drunkenly “went off” on her in the basement, and the verbal attacks he made about her dark skin. (Chapters 1-4)

Chapters 5-9

Reading Check

1. Ms. Luctenburg (Chapter 5)

2. Rihanna (Chapter 6)

3. Rabies (Chapter 7)

Short Answer

1. The figure is W.E.B. DuBois. Troy’s mom made him and his sister read The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. DuBois because she wanted them to know that “no matter where we came from, we can still be great” (Chapter 8). Troy is surprised when Genesis does not know who DuBois is. She says the only people they teach about during Black history month are Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman.