BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSThirteen-year-old Sammy Keyes is secretly living with her grandmother in a senior apartment building in Santa Martina, California, because her mother left for Hollywood and never came back. Stuck inside one afternoon to avoid the nosy neighbor who could get them evicted, Sammy kills time with binoculars aimed at the Heavenly Hotel across the street, and that is when she sees a man with a brown beard and black gloves rifling through a woman's purse in a fourth-floor room. The worst part: he looks up and sees her, and she waves. Now Sammy is a witness to a burglary in a neighborhood that has seen six of them in two weeks, the thief may know who she is, and the skeptical, easily annoyed Officer Borsch is the only cop on the case.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief
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 Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. 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 live secretly in her grandmother's senior citizens building?
✓ Answer
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
Sammy's mother left her with Grams over a year ago, and they've been hiding her presence ever since because the Senior Highrise is government-subsidized housing for seniors only. Sammy has to sneak in and out using the fire escape and keep all her belongings in Grams' bottom dresser drawer.
- First half
In what book do two girls threaten a little boy with nothing but broccoli and fish to keep him quiet?
✓ Answer
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
During the police visit at Marissa's house, Mikey nearly blows Sammy's cover. Sammy and Marissa threaten that if he tells anyone, they'll reveal that he ditched school pretending to be sick and spent his allowance on candy. Sammy warns him his parents will take away his allowance and only feed him broccoli and fish.
- First half
In what book does a girl visit an astrologer's shop with walls and ceiling painted black with little silver stars?
✓ Answer
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
During her suspension day, Sammy visits Gina's astrology shop on Main Street. Inside it's dark with black walls covered in silver stars, an old velvet love seat, a coffee table with candles and cards, and an ancient telescope on a brass stand. Gina is busy working on a birth chart when Sammy startles her.
- Second half
In what book do two girls escape down a fire escape and end up trapped in gnarly bushes and garbage?
✓ Answer
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
After finding the suspicious napkin at the hotel, Sammy and Marissa panic and rush down the fire escape, only to find themselves fenced in by chain-link and high cinder-block walls with garbage everywhere. They have to climb the wobbly chain-link fence to get out in Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief.
- Second half
In what book does a grandmother buy an embroidery project of cowboy boots resting on a fence post?
✓ Answer
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
While teaching Sammy to knit, Grams pulls out her own new project and tries to hide the picture on the front. When Sammy finally sees it, she's expecting flowers but instead finds a picture of cowboy boots on a fence post. It's so unlike Grams that Sammy asks if she's feeling all right in Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief.
- Near the end
In what book does a vice principal storm into the cafeteria and order a student to remove a fake bandage?
✓ Answer
Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen
After the doctor calls the school, Mr. Caan is furious because Dr. Gant lectured him about forcing a student to wear a bandage. He towers over Heather in front of the entire silent cafeteria and makes her peel off the athletic tape. It's Heather's most humiliating moment in Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief.
