The Stars Beneath Our Feet

Chapters 1-6

Reading Check

1. His brother Jermaine (Chapter 1)

2. St. Nicholas Houses (Chapter 1)

3. Steve Jenkins (Chapter 2)

4. Lego pieces (Chapter 4)

5. Play the violin (Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. Steve believes that Jermaine started getting into trouble because he did not have a creative outlet or a vision for contributing to society in a new way. Steve encourages Lolly to pursue other avenues by giving him A Pattern of Architecture. (Chapter 2)

2. Rockit is a member of the gang that Jermaine belonged to. He gives Lolly an expensive game console. Lolly believes Jermaine was behind the gift, but he doesn’t like video games. (Various chapters)

Chapters 7-12

Reading Check

1. House of Moneekrom (Chapter 7)

2. An African Hat (Chapter 9)

3. The barbershop (Chapter 10)

4. Vega (Chapter 11)

5. EDK Investigators (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. Rose is bigger and taller than the other students in the after-school program. She stomps everywhere she goes and has her upper lip tucked in her lower one. She does not speak to the other kids, and they wonder if she can speak. (Chapter 8)

2. Lolly doesn’t think his father wants him around. Lolly tries to get to know his father better, but his father often doesn’t show up when he is supposed to. Lolly feels it is his father’s responsibility to connect with him. (Various chapters)

Chapters 13-18

Reading Check

1. A coyote (Chapter 13)

2. The House of Moneekrom (Chapter 14)

3. A nightclub called BLOCK (Chapter 15)

4. Rose (Chapter 16)

Short Answer

1. Mr. Ali wants Lolly to remove Jermaine’s bed from his bedroom and to remember good memories while moving forward. (Chapter 16)

2. Lolly decides to challenge Rose to build a tower that is ten feet tall. The first person to complete the tower is the winner and will have the storage room to themselves. (Chapter 18)

Chapters 19-24

Reading Check

1. A live chicken (Chapter 19)

2. She is jealous of her relationship with Lolly. (Chapter 20)

3. Gully and Harp (Chapter 21)

4. A fitness program (Chapter 24)

Short Answer

1. Through their Lego building, the two have developed a bond. Rose begins to speak more with Lolly, and they enjoy their shared interest in Lego. (Chapter 20)

2. Rose is orphaned. She places stars on the sidewalk to represent her parents based on a poem she read. (Chapter 22)

3. Jermaine told Rockit that he had big plans for Lolly. He wanted to be sure Lolly had enough money to go to college. Jermaine probably joined the gang to have enough money to fulfill his dreams. (Chapter 23)

Chapters 25-30

Reading Check

1. Vega’s brother Frito (Chapter 26)

2. A bridge (Chapter 27)

3. To kids at St. Nicholas Houses (Chapter 28)

4. An outer-space Lego set (Chapter 29)

5. To the High Line (Chapter 30)

Short Answer

1. Gully and Vega steal items and harm people to persuade them to join their crew. When people refuse to join them, they bully the younger siblings of those they want to join. The crews promise protection from other crews if they join them. (Various chapters)

2. Daddy Rachpaul believes men should be strong and wants to enroll Lolly in martial arts or boxing. He blames Lolly’s mother for making him soft. (Chapter 28)

Chapters 31-37

Reading Check

1. A Glock (Chapter 31)

2. Nicky (Chapter 32)

3. Lego bags (Chapter 33)

4. Throw it in the river (Chapter 35)

5. She is diagnosed with autism. (Chapter 36)

6. His tablet (Chapter 37)

Short Answer

1. Jermaine tried to get Lolly to do jobs for his crew, but Lolly refused because he believed it would make his mother unhappy. (Chapter 31)

2. Lolly offers to work in the toy shop as a janitor to pay for the items. (Chapter 34)