BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSMarlene dreads Sunday mornings, when her mother Paola takes her to the salon to get her thick curly hair straightened, and this week there is an extra reason to go, since her cousin Diana is throwing an enormous quinceañera and Paola wants the family looking its best. Marlene hates the pulled hair, the heat, and the flowers the stylist Gleny pins into her set curls, and she daydreams about being like her favorite comic hero, Dulce Maria of the Super Amigas, who never has to deal with any of it. At the party, sweating through her hairstyle and hiding her face behind a paper menu for the family photos only makes things worse with her mother, and Marlene starts wondering if there is another way to feel good about how she looks. When her best friend Camilla shows her a hair tutorial made for curls just like hers, Marlene decides to find out what happens when she stops straightening her hair altogether, even if that means going against everything her mother has taught her.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Frizzy
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 Frizzy. 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 superhero's giant curls grab a villain and throw her through the air?
✓ Answer
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
Marlene daydreams the whole battle while she is stuck under the hooded dryer at the salon. Her hero Dulce Maria of the Super Amigas fights a masked villain armed with a hair dryer and a flat iron, and wins using her hair.
- First half
In what book do two friends study a curly hair tutorial from someone called SammieVCurls?
✓ Answer
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
The video Marlene picks shows a freckled woman with huge curls diffusing and scrunching her hair. Marlene decides that is exactly the look she wants, even though Camilla thinks the influencer is doing a lot.
- First half
In what book does a girl point out the many pictures of Jesus hanging in her house?
✓ Answer
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
Marlene sneaks past her mother in the kitchen and labels the family decorations on her way, counting three crosses and pointing out one painting she describes as Jesus stepping on some snakes. The joke shows off her funny, dramatic narrating voice.
- Second half
In what book does a cousin announce "Good hair" in an enormous speech bubble?
✓ Answer
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
Diana plucks a stuck piece of gum out of Marlene's hair and says she is so glad she has good hair. The words fill a giant hand lettered bubble because that one idea is what hurts Marlene most in the whole story.
- Second half
In what book does a white hen finally let a girl pet her while an aunt fetches lemonade?
✓ Answer
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
Marlene sits very still on the hot rooftop and Cantinflas walks right up to her, so she reaches out a gloved hand and scratches the bird. Ruby comes back with two glasses and says she knew the hen would warm up to her eventually.
- Near the end
In what book does a classmate stop a girl in the hallway to apologize?
✓ Answer
Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
Stacey catches Marlene after art class and says sorry for what happened the other day. Marlene tells her it was really messed up but that she does not hate her, and Stacey adds that she likes her hair.
