attack of the black rectangles

What is the school's name?

Independence North Elementary School

What year do the events in 'The Devil's Arithmetic' take place?

1941, during World War II and the Holocaust.

Who is the lady who writes in the local newspaper throughout the book?

Laura Samuel Sett

Which grade does Ms. Sett teach and which school?

6th Grade, Independence North Elementary.

What does Grandad call Tony Farisi?

Sanctimonious Turd

What did Mac put in his baseball backpack?

His lucky rock, from when he hit his first home run.

Why did Hoa adopt an English name?

Because 'Hoa Do' is considered too Asian of a name, so she decided to make it easier.

Why did Mac's town ban junk food?

Because Laura Sett says it has no nutrition.

What planet does Mac's dad say he was from?

BD-134

What page is censored in 'The Devil's Arithmetic'?

93 and 117.

How many quarters does Denis have to feed the ducks?

4 Dollars or 16 quarters.

Why was Marci called to the office?

Because she was wearing clothes that did not fit the school dress code.

What does dad come through the garage doorway with?

Two butternut squashes.

How many big 'mysterious' boxes are on Ms. Sett's desk?

There are three big 'mysterious' boxes on Ms. Sett's desk.

What happened to Dad's dress clothes?

They were gone from the place in the closet he kept them.

Why did Hannah Do change her name?

Her real name, Hoa Do, is considered 'too Asian'.

What is Dad's favorite cake?

Crumb cake.

Which state is Independence North Elementary School in?

Independence North Elementary School is in Pennsylvania.

Who is the author of 'The Devil's Arithmetic'?

Jane Yolen.

What does Grandad say about his favorite pen?

It works underwater.

What does Grandad say is one of the most important things to learn?

Crying.

What pottery object did Mac's dad break that made his mom upset?

His Mom's prized (blue) mug.

What was the book Mac was reading with his lit circle group?

'The Devil's Arithmetic'.

What signs do Mac and his friends make outside of Ms. Sett's classroom?

1. You can't censor people 2. Breasts is just a word 3. Silent protest in progress 4. Free Aaron James!

How many pages are in 'Attack of the Black Rectangles'?

258.

What does Mac’s dad think he is?

An alien.

In the book 'Attack of the Black Rectangles', who is to thank for not using words like 'donut', 'cancer', or 'death'?

Ms. Laura Samuel Sett.

In the book 'Attack of the Black Rectangles', why did Ms. Sett write a letter to the paper about Grandad?

He was eating candy on the bench at Main Street.

What is the name of the class reading groups?

Lit circle.

In the book 'Attack of the Black Rectangles', what junk food does Mac Delaney love?

Cheetos.

Why did Mac include that his dad smashed his mom's mug in his letter to Jane Yolen?

He wanted to prove that grownups lie and wanted to provide an example.

Why did their town ban Halloween?

They believe that it is too dangerous to be walking around at night and ringing people's doorbell for candy.

What is Mac's dad's excuse for not playing catch?

He claimed that his arm was hurting, but Mac thought that his arm looked fine.

Out of the list of phrases Mac wrote down, after the Christopher Columbus dispute, did Mac say was his favorite?

Kick something into the long grass.

What is Ms. Sett's job at Independence North Elementary School?

6th grade teacher.

Who is the author of the book?

A.S. King.

What is Ms. Sett's job at the middle school?

A teacher.

Does Mac's family follow the town's rules?

No.

Who taught the main character to stand up for himself?

Ms. Sett.

What game did Denis and the main character make?

BOT DUCK MAN.

After Mac went to the Liberty Bell where did he go?

Independence Hall.

Since when has Mac been in the same class as Marci Thompson?

First Grade.

What is Mac's mom's job?

Hospice care.

What does Mac's dad like to tell him?

He isn't from this galaxy.

What did Mac say grace is like?

It is like jelly.

Where does Denis go during the summer in August?

Summer camp.

What does Mac do during the summer in August?

He plays Ultimate Detective.

In Ms. Sett's room how are the desks put?

They are lined up like soldiers.

How much homework does Ms. Sett give if you behave in the way she wants you to?

A little homework.

What does Mac's Grandad pack him for lunch?

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich with orange cheese curls.

How many math questions do the students get on the first day of school?

40.

What is Denis scared of?

Water, snakes, and (according to the text) obviously water snakes.

How long has Denis not crouched?

3 weeks.

What does Aaron say that Ms. Sett doesn't correct?

The Earth is flat.

What was the book Mac and his group started reading?

'The Devil's Arithmetic'.

Does Mac read ahead after Marci waves at him?

No.

Besides posting in the local newspapers, what else does Ms. Sett do?

She is a 6th grade teacher.

What does the town council believe in?

Rules equal safety, so more rules equals greater safety.

What is the thing that Ms. Sett does not desire to be?

She doesn’t want to be 'like the other towns'.

What junk food does Mac’s mom love?

Oreos.

What war did Grandpa fight in?

The Vietnam War.

What is the main character's full name?

Mac Delaney.

What is the Mom’s job?

She works in hospice care, helping with people who are grieving/emotional support.

Headed with the 5th graders on a school trip where were Mac and Denis going?

Philadelphia.

What is the game Mac and Denis come up with?

BOT DUCK MAN.

What does BOT DUCK MAN stand for?

Botfly, Duck, Human.

What game is BOT DUCK MAN like?

Rock, paper, scissors.

In the game BOT DUCK MAN, why BOT/botfly?

Denis’s uncle got one in his arm the last time he went to Costa Rica.

In the game BOT DUCK MAN, why DUCK?

Because the main characters live in a town with a lot of ducks.

In the game BOT DUCK MAN, why MAN?

The way Denis described the botfly coming out of his uncle's arm.

Where is Mac never going, because of the botfly incident?

Costa Rica.

What were the first 2 words Mac heard from Ms. Sett?

'Stop it'.

Where did Mac and his friends go on their 5th grade field trip?

They went to see the Liberty Bell.

What did they see after the Liberty Bell?

Independence Hall.

What are the rules in DUCK BOT MAN?

DUCK beats BOT, BOT beats MAN, MAN beats DUCK.

What was Mac’s question about the Founding Fathers after the tour of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall?

"How many of the guys who signed the declaration of independence owned slaves?" The answer is 41 out of 56 signers owned slaves.

On the way back from Philadelphia what was the song the teachers made the kids sing?

Row row row your boat.

How many times had Mac seen the Liberty Bell before his 5th-grade field trip?

3 times.

What percent of the Declaration of Independence signers owned slaves?

73%.

What is the main thing Maci always talks about?

Women's rights.

What does Mac compare Grace to?

Jam.

Where was Mac’s Gram from?

Cornwall, England.

On what days do Mac’s dad eat dinner with them?

Saturday.

What is the activity Mac and Dennis do during the summer?

Feeding the ducks.

What do some of the parking signs read in Mac’s town?

HORSE PARKING ONLY.

What is one of the things Ms. Sett is known for?

Making her students practice perfect posture.

Who is most opposed to Ms. Sett's posture enforcement?

Denis.

What is the homework on the first day of school?

40 math problems.

What are some of Denis's fears?

Snakes, water, and tongues.

What does Mac’s family do for 4th of July?

They go to the Pennsylvania forest reserve.

What is the name Mac plays during the summer?

Ultimate Detective.

After finding out they have Ms. Sett as a teacher what are the only two things Mac thinks will save Dennis?

Cheetos and Soda.

What on the 1st day of 6th grade, what is Ms. Sett wearing?

A green dress and different sized triangles jewelry.

Who is the kid who thinks the earth is flat?

Aaron James.

Who is in Mac’s lit group?

Hannah, Aaron, Dennis, Marci, and Mac.

The Devil’s Arithmetic won what award?

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award.

What is the war Grandad's friend fought in?

Korean War.

What is Mac's Grandad's car?

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.

What extracurriculars do Marci and Denis have?

Marci - Chorus, Denis - Chess Club.

After finding out that Dad has smashed Mom’s prized mug, what do Grandad and Mac do before going?

Go for a night walk.