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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSCurveball is a funny, full-color graphic novel about Elena Rueda, the best player on her baseball team and the only girl on it. Her mom yells from the stands, talks about what "we" will do, and has Elena's future planned all the way to high school varsity. But Elena isn't having fun anymore. After she hurts her knee tripping over her little brother Benji's costume tail, she plays up the injury to skip summer clinic, until her abuelo catches on and gives her a choice. She can go to clinic like her mom wants, or she can tag along with Benji's live-action role-playing group, the BORKs (The Band of Renegade Kinsfolk), where kids dress up, go on pretend quests, and nobody wins. Then there is Toni, a quiet new girl who sketches in a tree by the old sandlot and lives in the big dark mansion next door.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Curveball
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 Curveball. 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 mom drive beside her daughter's snowy jog, yelling through a megaphone?
✓ Answer
Curveball by Pablo Cartaya
On the drive home, Mom lists Elena's best stats while flashbacks show scenes like this snowy run. Later Elena tells Toni her mom makes her go on morning runs in the snow.
- First half
In what book does a girl drop from a tree with her sketchbook and hear, "Nice dismount, kid"?
✓ Answer
Curveball by Pablo Cartaya
Elena wanders over to the sandlot and spots Toni sitting in a tree with her notebook. When Toni drops down, Elena teases her, and Toni runs off with Elena chasing after her.
- First half
In what book do sprinklers blast a boy in a top hat climbing a spiked iron fence?
✓ Answer
Curveball by Pablo Cartaya
For the second rescue attempt, Augusfjord climbs the iron fence around Nana's house until sprinklers spray him and he falls onto the lawn. Everyone runs, while Nana calmly sips tea at her window.
- Second half
In what book does a lacrosse star admit she has watched many of a schoolmate's games?
✓ Answer
Curveball by Pablo Cartaya
Under the pavilion, Yessenia tells Elena in Spanish that she has seen many of her games, then says Elena is so fierce on the field. Elena didn't think anyone in school watched her play, and Yessenia admits she didn't think Elena would hang out with her.
- Second half
In what book does a girl admit she didn't know her brother's campaign had a main plot?
✓ Answer
Curveball by Pablo Cartaya
Up in a tree, Elena tells Benji the BORKs kept asking her about extra rules, and Benji admits he didn't think about subplots to the campaign. Elena replies that she didn't even know there was a main plot.
- Near the end
In what book does batting practice in a dragon costume count as just hanging out?
✓ Answer
Curveball by Pablo Cartaya
Benji told everyone they would just hang out with no ball, but now he holds up a ball with a monster face and asks who wants to play BORKball. When Elena asks what happened to just hanging, he says a little batting practice in his dragon costume counts.
