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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSThirteen-year-old Sage lives in Harlem with her dad, and one month ago, on her birthday, her best friend was hit by a car and died. Now Sage goes to an after-school grief group, led by a counselor named Ms. Carver, with four other girls who have lost someone. Ebony and DD, whose losses also came without warning, understand her best, but Sage often tunes out Ana and Zay, who got to say goodbye. Sage feels anxious every time she crosses a street, and she is convinced, in her words, that her best friend died and "it's all my fault." Her Aunt Ini gets her out of bed, her parents want her to start Fly Girl, an aviation program, since all she has ever dreamed of is being a pilot, and a boy from the basketball court at Morningside Park seems to have his eye on her. Still, Sage tells herself that no one can replace her best friend.
Free Battle of the Books questions for All the Blues in the Sky
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 All the Blues in the Sky. 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 are sad, lonely, anxious, tired, and guilty the five words a girl picks from a list?
✓ Answer
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
Instead of asking the girls to talk, Ms. Carver has them choose five words from the board that describe how they feel right now. Each of Sage's five words has a reason behind it, like feeling anxious every time she crosses a street or sees a car speed by.
- First half
In what book does a sign by a math teacher's desk claim his favorite dessert is pi?
✓ Answer
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
Mr. Dixon's classroom is plastered with posters, an organized chaos that looks like a junkyard of all things math. The one at the front of the room says math is the only subject that counts, and the one by his desk jokes that his favorite dessert is pi.
- First half
In what book does a Morningside Park boy sink a three-pointer and wink, though the girls can't tell at whom?
✓ Answer
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
Sage, Ebony, and DD sit at Morningside Park watching boys shoot hoops when Kofi makes a three-pointer, looks their way, and winks. DD swears he has his eyes on Sage, and Ebony agrees.
- Second half
In what book does an aviation instructor admit the explanation for why airplanes stay up is incomplete?
✓ Answer
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
In Sage's Saturday aviation program, Ms. Barbara tells the class that no one truly understands what makes a plane fly. Sage had hoped the class would be full of answers and formulas, so hearing about an incomplete explanation makes her eyes tear up.
- Second half
In what book does an aunt say "We never run out of love, unless we let our hearts dry out"?
✓ Answer
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
Aunt Ini tells Sage not to let sadness and anger blind her to the blessings in her life, like the girls from group. She says they can't replace her best friend, but they show Sage she can give and receive love in all kinds of ways.
- Near the end
In what book does a best friend's big sister make the best grilled cheese and dance party playlists?
✓ Answer
All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
When Brielle shows up at the door, Sage remembers how she used to babysit the two girls and create the best playlists for their impromptu dance parties. Brielle looks just like Sage's best friend, only older.
