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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSLiberty Jacobs lives with her dad, an entomologist, in the attic apartment of his insect museum, the Walnut Street Insectarium in Philadelphia. The museum has been short on money since an illness killed many of its insects, and in about a week Dad will ask investors for funding. Liberty hopes he will add her butterfly release business, Life & Liberty, to his pitch so she can earn enough to visit her best friend, Emmy, in Florida. Meanwhile, Cam Jones, a popular boy from Liberty's school, starts volunteering at the museum to touch up Emmy's old murals. Then Emmy, left alone on a video call on Liberty's phone in the lobby, overhears two men talking about Thursday night, cameras that don't work, and something that will "fetch a pretty penny." The police watch the building, but nothing happens, and Liberty starts to suspect someone who works at the museum. With Cam's help, and Emmy watching from far away, she decides to catch the robbers herself.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Bug Bandits
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 The Bug Bandits. 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 ask whether there's a hyena on a girl's phone laughing at him?
✓ Answer
The Bug Bandits by Jenni L. Walsh
Emmy is on Liberty's video call and laughs at Cam's run-in with Kermit. Cam asks about the hyena, and Emmy later says she'll ignore the fact that he thought she was one.
- First half
In what book does a girl fix a running toilet by reattaching a little hook inside the tank?
✓ Answer
The Bug Bandits by Jenni L. Walsh
Liberty takes the long trip up to her apartment bathroom and has to fix the toilet when it won't stop running. When she finally gets back to the lobby, Mary Sue, Renee, and Cam are gone, and two men are leaving through the front door.
- First half
In what book does a dad drop an employee's glasses into her purse so she can't forget them?
✓ Answer
The Bug Bandits by Jenni L. Walsh
Everyone who works at the museum, plus Cam, is told not to come by Thursday night, and Mary Sue asks what happens if she forgets her glasses. Dad plucks them off the information desk, drops them into her purse, and says "Problem solved."
- Second half
In what book does a girl, startled mid-plan, claim she's researching defense mechanisms for a project?
✓ Answer
The Bug Bandits by Jenni L. Walsh
Renee and Rosie walk up together while Liberty is writing a list of animal defenses to copy in her traps. She covers by saying it's for a project, and Rosie proudly calls her a future entomologist.
- Second half
In what book does a friend on a video call hold up a trophy shaped like a chess queen?
✓ Answer
The Bug Bandits by Jenni L. Walsh
Emmy calls from her chess tournament and says she won, holding up a huge, shiny trophy shaped like the queen piece. Liberty notices Emmy's face drops anyway, and she seems to be acting strange again.
- Near the end
In what book are grasshoppers painted pink to pass as rare katydids?
✓ Answer
The Bug Bandits by Jenni L. Walsh
To keep the most valuable insects safe, the real stag beetles, pink katydids, and rare tarantulas are tucked away in Liberty's bedroom, with plastic bugs left in their place. Cam even paints grasshoppers pink to really sell the swap.
