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ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSLouis is a Trumpeter Swan born without a voice in a remote Canadian pond, and his silence sets him apart from his brothers and sisters in ways that will shape his whole life. A boy named Sam Beaver discovers the swan family on a camping trip and quietly befriends them, watching the cygnets hatch and noticing the one little swan who never makes a sound. As Louis grows older, he realizes his inability to call out like the other swans puts him at a real disadvantage, especially when he falls in love with a beautiful young swan named Serena who pays him no attention because he cannot say a single word to her.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Trumpet of the Swan
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 Trumpet of the Swan. 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 keep a diary that always ends with a question?
✓ Answer
The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
Sam Beaver writes in his notebook every night and finishes each entry with a question to think about while falling asleep, like why a fox barks. It shows how curious and thoughtful Sam is about the natural world.
- First half
In what book does a father bird crash through a music store window to grab a brass instrument?
✓ Answer
The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
Having no money, the cob dives straight through a big music store window in Billings and snatches the brass horn hanging by a red cord. He flies off with it even though a piece of glass cuts his shoulder.
- First half
In what book is a wilderness boys' camp named after an Indian word for the Great Horned Owl?
✓ Answer
The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
Camp Kookooskoos is named with an Indian word meaning Great Horned Owl, and Mr. Brickle says a camp should have a peculiar name to sound interesting. The camp in Ontario is where Louis works as bugler.
- Second half
In what book does a guest order sandwiches by writing "One with. Eleven without"?
✓ Answer
The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
Hungry in his Ritz room, Louis asks a waiter for twelve watercress sandwiches. Never having tasted mayonnaise, he cleverly writes "One with. Eleven without" so he can sample it just once.
- Second half
In what book does a telegram offer a performer five hundred dollars a week for a nightclub?
✓ Answer
The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
A Western Union boy delivers a telegram from Abe Lucky Lucas offering Louis five hundred dollars a week in Philadelphia. Louis quickly figures the ten weeks would pay off his father's whole debt.
- Near the end
In what book does a player wake his true love at dawn with Beautiful Dreamer?
✓ Answer
The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
Louis plans to wake the sleeping Serena at first light with the song Beautiful Dreamer, Wake Unto Me. The plan works perfectly, and the sweet notes make her fall in love with him at first sight.
