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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSLouie and Ralphie Ratso are two brothers who live in the Big City with their gruff father, Big Lou, who drives a truck and a forklift and believes there are only two kinds of people: tough ones and softies. The brothers want nothing more than to prove they belong in the first group, so they hatch one scheme after another to look mean and intimidating around their neighborhood. The only problem is that every plan goes sideways in the most unexpected way, leaving everyone around them convinced the Ratso brothers are actually the kindest kids on the block.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Infamous Ratsos
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 Infamous Ratsos. 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 father drive a truck, a forklift, and sometimes a snowplow?
✓ Answer
The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau
Big Lou's gruff working life is described early on to show why his sons see him as tough. He hardly smiles, hardly talks, and his jobs all involve big, heavy machines.
- First half
In what book are two brothers mistaken for heroes after taking back a stolen hat?
✓ Answer
The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau
The whole playground watches and decides Louie and Ralphie are heroes for getting Tiny's hat back. The brothers are frustrated, because they wanted to look tough, not nice.
- First half
In what book is a city blanketed in so much snow that buses can't get down the roads?
✓ Answer
The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau
A huge snowstorm hits the Big City and cancels school. Big Lou heads out in his snowplow while his sons go looking for trouble in the snowy streets.
- Second half
In what book does a sandwich contain pickled mushrooms, beets, and eggplant?
✓ Answer
The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau
The prank sandwich is filled with what the brothers think are the worst foods, but it turns out to be exactly what Fluffy's nana used to make. She loves it and thinks the boys are being generous.
- Second half
In what book do two brothers soap every single window of a house until the sun comes up?
✓ Answer
The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau
The brothers have so much soap left after the first window that they keep going on every window in the house. They are too tired to run away when Mrs. Porcupini wakes up and spots them.
- Near the end
In what book does a father hold up an open letter on crisp white paper from the school?
✓ Answer
The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau
Big Lou is waiting in the kitchen with a letter when the brothers come home. The letter praises them for kindness, which surprises and confuses them since they were trying to be tough.
