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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSAddie is an eleven-year-old autistic girl who lives in the small Scottish village of Juniper, just outside Edinburgh, with her parents and her two older sisters. School is hard this year: her new teacher, Ms. Murphy, has no patience for her, and her old best friend Jenna has drifted toward a new girl named Emily who enjoys being cruel. Addie finds comfort in her love of sharks, in the school library, and in a pocket thesaurus her sister Keedie gave her, and things start looking up when another new girl, Audrey, sticks up for her on her first day and becomes her friend. Then Ms. Murphy's class begins a unit on old Edinburgh, and Addie learns that Juniper itself once accused innocent women of witchcraft and had them killed. The story grabs hold of her completely, and she decides the village owes those women a memorial, even after the village committee turns her down flat. Meanwhile she starts noticing that Keedie, who is autistic too, is hiding something behind her usual confidence, and it will not stay hidden for long.
Free Battle of the Books questions for A Kind of Spark
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about A Kind of Spark. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a Scottish class study witch trials as a project leading up to Halloween?
✓ Answer
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Ms. Murphy introduces the project about old Edinburgh and the women accused of witchcraft, and Addie is instantly gripped. The lesson launches Addie's campaign for a memorial to the women her own village helped kill.
- First half
In what book does a girl tell a classmate, "I can smell your breakfast"?
✓ Answer
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Emily gets right up in Addie's face to brag about being Jenna's best friend, and Addie answers with the plain truth. Addie has acute senses and did not mean it as a joke, but Audrey thinks it is hilarious.
- First half
In what book does a girl correct a guest speaker who claims autistic children lack empathy?
✓ Answer
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
At a meeting with her parents, Mr. Patterson says something careless and Addie answers that being autistic is something you are, not something you have. Her mum jumps in to finish the sentence for her, and Mr. Patterson admits he has never met an autistic person before.
- Second half
In what book does a girl return her shark book and ask the librarian for one about dolphins?
✓ Answer
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
After Audrey says sharks are horrible and dolphins seem friendlier, Addie tries to give up the thing she loves most. Mr. Allison can see how much it costs her and tells her that liking sharks is reason enough.
- Second half
In what book is a girl named after a man-eating plant from an old film?
✓ Answer
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Addie assumes Audrey was named for a famous film star like the ones on Nina's bedroom wall. Audrey cheerfully explains it was really an old eighties film her dad loves, which is very much her sense of humor.
- Near the end
In what book is a university student found curled up in the corner of the bathroom?
✓ Answer
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Addie and Nina come home to a dark, silent house and find Keedie looking utterly gone. Nina explains that her system is overloaded and that she will need a couple of days.
