BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSCassie Carpenter is one of six kids in a crowded, noisy house in Salt Lake City in 1984. Her big sister Heidi asks if she ever stops talking, her older brother Jerry always has his nose in a book, her toddler sister Sammy kicks her in the face in the bed they share, and Mom is too busy with the baby to listen. Then, on a boring Saturday, Cassie finds a Magazine Heaven Sweepstakes letter in the mailbox that says she has already won, and her envelope holds the gold sunburst sticker. She is sure her life is about to change. She plans to pick a car for her family, a waterbed for Mom, a trip to Colonial Williamsburg for her best friend, Vali, and gold jewelry for her favorite teacher, Mrs. Farmer, who is retiring at the end of the school year and says she was once a princess. But when Mrs. Farmer moves the desks, a classmate named Stesha, whose best friend just moved to Nebraska, ends up next to Vali and starts pulling her away. Cassie feels everything in a big way, it seems like everyone thinks she is too sensitive, and she imagines her way through it all. Across the street lives Trinh, a younger girl Cassie once made up a Fairyland game with, before Heidi said it was embarrassing to play with littler kids.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Dream On
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 Dream On. 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 girl press a gold sunburst sticker onto an entry form, sure she has won?
✓ Answer
Dream On by Shannon Hale
The letter says anyone whose envelope holds the gold sunburst sticker is a guaranteed grand prize winner. Cassie puts the sticker on the official entry form and feels a shiver go through her bones.
- First half
In what book does a classmate scoff that sublime is not a word?
✓ Answer
Dream On by Shannon Hale
As recess ends, Cassie is starting to feel down until she notices the flowering trees and asks if they smell sublime. When Stesha says that isn't a word, Cassie points out it was on Mrs. Farmer's vocabulary list, but Stesha says she doesn't remember that.
- First half
In what book does a puppet named Mrs. Spaghetti Head help a girl babysit?
✓ Answer
Dream On by Shannon Hale
When Benny screams and Sammy hangs on her leg, Cassie gives up imagining for now and voices a puppet who loves spaghetti. She notices that babies think silly stuff is amazing and wonders if feeling wonder is just for little kids.
- Second half
In what book does a teacher say she was born "As poor as dirt" in Tennessee?
✓ Answer
Dream On by Shannon Hale
Cassie asks if Mrs. Farmer's mom and dad were a queen and king, but Mrs. Farmer says she was born in Tennessee and her father was a farmer. She points out that it's funny, since her last name is Farmer now.
- Second half
In what book do two girls play Fairyland at a wedding reception, walking across folding chair seats?
✓ Answer
Dream On by Shannon Hale
Cassie reminds Trinh of the Fairyland game they once made up, and they play it right there, with Trinh as the Queen of Fairyland. Cassie thinks she hasn't done this in a long time.
- Near the end
In what book does a big sister say "I can take you" and ride bikes to a best friend's house?
✓ Answer
Dream On by Shannon Hale
Cassie says Vali never answers her phone and she can't cross the busy street without a crossing guard, so Heidi says she can take her. On the ride over, Cassie feels mad instead of scared.
