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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSThirteen year old Andi Byrd has not felt like herself since her mother died in a car accident ten months ago. Now living with her aunt and uncle in Grand Rapids and still working through anxiety attacks, she heads off to Harmony Music Camp for a month of trumpet practice, itchy uniform knee socks, and seat auditions she never expected to care about. Her cabin bunkmate is Zora Johnson, a first chair flute player from Ann Arbor whose parents have mapped out every minute of her summer, and the two girls seem to have nothing in common. As mixers, midnight cabin traditions, and a looming showcase performance push them together anyway, Andi starts to wonder if camp might help her find her way back to her music, and to the parts of herself she thought she lost along with her mother.
Free Battle of the Books questions for In the Key of Us
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 In the Key of Us. 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 mother sing into a wooden spoon while making waffles on a snow day?
✓ Answer
In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
Andi remembers the last time she really danced, a canceled school day in Detroit when her mom skipped work and blasted an Aretha Franklin playlist. Her mother told her you dance because something inside needs to be set free.
- First half
In what book do two ballet classmates grab a girl's Afro puffs and call her a poodle?
✓ Answer
In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
Zora was seven when Suzi and Mae touched her hair without asking and nicknamed her poodle girl for the rest of class. Her mom watched it happen through the studio window, and soon after decided Zora should refocus on flute instead of dance.
- First half
In what book does a boy claim he can steer a small kayak and then tip into the lake?
✓ Answer
In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
Christopher only joins the paddle because he does not want Andi going off with Zora, and he ends up standing shoulder deep in the water hauling his boat back to shore. His jealousy of Zora is a real thread through the middle of the book.
- Second half
In what book does an aunt say she fights with her intellect and her ambition?
✓ Answer
In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
Driving home from the principal's office, Aunt Janine tells Andi that she and Andi's mom both had to learn to stand up for themselves growing up without a mother of their own. She admits it took everything she had not to throw something at Mr. McBride.
- Second half
In what book do two girls touch noses on a lakeshore before sharing a first kiss?
✓ Answer
In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
After Andi's canoe sinks and Zora helps her out of the water, the two of them sit wrapped in one rain poncho on the sand. Andi leans over the little pile of twigs she picked out of Zora's locs, asks, and Zora nods.
- Near the end
In what book does a best friend pretend to be a camper's mother to get a phone call through?
✓ Answer
In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington
Kennedy calls Harmony Music Camp and lies about who she is, because only family members are allowed to phone campers. She and Zora apologize to each other and agree to start over when Zora gets home.
