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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSShane Woods is twelve, a sixth grader in Los Angeles, and the star pitcher for the Cardinals, a club baseball team where his best friend, Josh, plays second base. He has a crush on Madeline, a red-haired girl in his homeroom whose hair smells like strawberry bubble gum, and every day after homework he works on a graphic novel about a space explorer named Hogan Fillion. He lives with his mom, a vegan midwife, while his dad lives in San Francisco. Shane is also transgender. He transitioned at his old school in San Francisco, but since moving to Los Angeles before fourth grade he has kept it private, and nobody at school or on his team knows. When he skips a must-win game for a trip to San Francisco, where his dad lives, the trip brings surprising news and a hard decision about his medical care. Then, back at school, Nico Palmer, a bully from the rival Mustangs, mentions that his cousins go to Shane's old school. With regionals coming up, Shane has to figure out how to protect his privacy, keep his friends, and stay focused on the mound.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Other Boy
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 Other Boy. 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 an alien orphan named Willoughby shoot sparks when he gets angry?
✓ Answer
The Other Boy by M. G. Hennessey
Willoughby is the alien orphan Hogan picks up in Shane's graphic novel, kind of like a hairless Ewok. His sparks get the two of them out of a lot of tough situations.
- First half
In what book does a kid's heart thud around his chest "like a crazed bat"?
✓ Answer
The Other Boy by M. G. Hennessey
Madeline's parents think she's too young to go out, but she suggests Shane come over and study sometime, and he's sure she can hear his heart. After she walks off, he feels like gravity has released him.
- First half
In what book does a midwife's son say, "I got the talk when I was in diapers"?
✓ Answer
The Other Boy by M. G. Hennessey
While they play video games, Josh asks if Shane's mom has given him the talk yet, and Shane says his mom's a midwife. Josh says his own dad came into his room looking so nervous that Josh thought he was going to say something really bad.
- Second half
In what book does a GIF of a guy in a bear suit doing cartwheels cheer someone up?
✓ Answer
The Other Boy by M. G. Hennessey
Alejandra, Shane's new buddy, texts him a joke about her mom getting algebra all wrong and reminds him of her rule to write back. Her ridiculous bear-suit GIF makes Shane feel better, so he takes a deep breath and walks into class.
- Second half
In what book does a friend call from a house so noisy it sounds like a train station?
✓ Answer
The Other Boy by M. G. Hennessey
When Alejandra calls to check on Shane, the background noise is so loud he would have guessed she was at a restaurant or a train station. She explains that she has three brothers and sisters, and her aunt is staying with them too.
- Near the end
In what book does a son decline moving in with his dad, saying his mom would miss him?
✓ Answer
The Other Boy by M. G. Hennessey
Dad offers to let Shane come live with him and Summer in San Francisco and start over at a new school. Shane says he should stay because Mom would miss him too much, and Dad promises to come down more.
