BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSMalian is a Penacook girl in eighth grade who was visiting her grandparents on the reservation when COVID-19 hit, and now she's stuck there while her parents shelter in place in Boston. She can't leave, Internet access is spotty, and she misses her mom and dad badly. On her first morning, a huge wolf-like dog with white spots above his eyes shows up in the driveway and simply decides to stay, adopting Malian and her grandparents as his own. While Malian settles into this unexpected life on the rez with the dog she names Malsum, she has to figure out how to keep her grandparents safe, do her schoolwork with a weak hotspot, and hold herself together far from home.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Rez Dogs
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 Rez Dogs. 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 name a stray wolflike creature with the old Penacook word for wolf?
✓ Answer
Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac
Malian names her new friend Malsum, which means wolf in the old Penacook language. The big animal nods as if accepting the name.
- First half
In what book does a girl lecture late-night sneak-out friends that they could give COVID to their grandparents?
✓ Answer
Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac
After Darrell whines that kids don't get sick from the virus, Malian reminds him they can still pass it to their elders. She tells the boys they should be ashamed of themselves.
- First half
In what book does a white van labeled OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT pull up driven by a blond woman holding a clipboard?
✓ Answer
Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac
A stern government worker arrives unannounced to check that the home is a fit environment for Malian. She is forced to retreat into her van by the snarling guardian on the lawn.
- Second half
In what book does a great-uncle named Philip offer tobacco before hunting a moose for its meat?
✓ Answer
Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac
Grandma Frances explains that Uncle Philip offered tobacco as a gift when asking the moose to share its body with him.
- Second half
In what book does an iPad suddenly light up with two bars after a rainbow appears in the sky?
✓ Answer
Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac
After Grampa Roy finishes the planter story and a rainbow appears, Malian's iPad regains its signal, prompting him to joke that the device likes rainbows too.
- Near the end
In what book does a teacher say she never apologized to a former student for what she had been thinking?
✓ Answer
Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac
Ms. Mendelson confesses to her Zoom class that she never apologized to Rodney for assuming the worst about him because of his skin color.
