BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSPhineas L. MacGuire, a self-declared scientist who goes by Mac, is starting fourth grade at Woodbrook Elementary without his best friend and fellow volcano enthusiast Marcus, who just moved to Kansas. With no lab partner and the fourth-grade science fair two weeks away, Mac ends up paired with the class's most disliked newcomer: an obnoxious kid from Seattle who calls himself Mac R., claims Seattle children are natural geniuses, and is obsessed with dinosaurs. Mac will have to figure out how to do a project he actually cares about with a partner he barely tolerates while also keeping up with Aretha Timmons, the only other real scientist in his class.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts!
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 Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts!. 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 boy want to set the world record for the longest dried earthworm?
✓ Answer
Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
The narrator collects dried earthworms instead of baseball cards like his old best friend. He explains Australia has the world's longest worms, so he might need to move there to set the record.
- First half
In what book does a fourth grader want to bring his entire family refrigerator to school as a science project?
✓ Answer
Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
The narrator calls his family fridge a museum of mold and dreams of presenting the entire appliance at the science fair. He plans to add interesting magnets on the outside as a bonus.
- First half
In what book does a boy show off his own comic called "Derek the Destroyer"?
✓ Answer
Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
The classmate pulls a box of about two million sketch pads from under his bed to share his comic with the narrator. The drawings reveal a hidden artistic talent.
- Second half
In what book does a girl threaten to stomp two boys into the ground at the upcoming science fair?
✓ Answer
Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Aretha is furious that the narrator has befriended Ben and warns him she will crush their team at the science fair.
- Second half
In what book does a teacher joke that Picasso may have gotten locked inside the supply closet?
✓ Answer
Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Mrs. Tuttle tries to convince a reluctant student to open the closet by joking that the famous painter is trapped inside.
- Near the end
In what book does a forgotten bottle of vinegar nearly ruin a model volcano demonstration?
✓ Answer
Phineas L. MacGuire... Erupts! by Frances O'Roark Dowell
When the judges arrive, the narrator realizes Ben forgot the vinegar needed for the chemical reaction in their model volcano.
