BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSDanny Monteverde is an eleven-year-old orphan who has been shuffled through foster homes ever since his older sister Pili vanished two years ago. Danny refuses to believe she ran away. He and Pili had made a pinky promise that one day they would find their way to Rio Luna, a magical fairyland from their favorite book of stories, *The Way to Rio Luna* by Ella St. Clay. When a school field trip brings Danny to the New York Public Library, glowing golden arrows appear beneath his feet and lead him to a locked room holding the original handwritten copy of Ella's book. There he meets Glory Papillon, a girl who once saw the arrows herself, and her aunt, the archeologist Leanna North, who has spent years researching the enchanted volume. Danny discovers that the book is a treasure map with four missing pages, and that collecting those pages will unlock a door into Rio Luna, where he believes Pili is waiting.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Way to Rio Luna
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 Way to Rio Luna. 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 nine-year-old boy buy a jar of fairy dust at a yard sale for fifty cents?
✓ Answer
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova
Danny passes a yard sale with the Finnegan kids and discovers a small bottle labeled FAIRY DUST in a bin of doll parts and gravy boats. He uses it that same night to try to fly off the roof to find his missing sister.
- First half
In what book does an archeologist's home have wallpaper of mermaids and pirate ships running down the entrance hall?
✓ Answer
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova
When Danny first enters Auntie North's house, he marvels at the entire blue and white ocean printed on the wallpaper. Mermaids, manatees, turtles, eels, and pirate ships swim down the corridor, fitting the home's seafaring nickname.
- First half
In what book does a witch trap visiting children with tree roots until they answer a question truthfully?
✓ Answer
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova
When Danny reaches for the first missing page, Leigh the Bard has Willie's roots coil around his and Glory's ankles, calves, and throats. She demands a true answer about whether you can ever truly give up the person you love most.
- Second half
In what book does a guinea pig tap a cane to raise twisting gold stone walls around a boy?
✓ Answer
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova
To test Danny, Sinchi taps his cane and golden stones rise from the earth, building a labyrinth around the boy. Danny has to navigate the maze before the walls seal him in forever to earn the second key.
- Second half
In what book does a horned creature wave a stick with a red-and-black pillowcase, shouting "Run to freedom, my kin!"?
✓ Answer
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova
Furious that locals capture and eat cuys, Llewelyn liberates hundreds of guinea pigs from their pens. He runs across the green hills waving a makeshift banner while confused humans look on, a moment of pure jackalope heroism.
- Near the end
In what book do kids fly across the ocean each holding on to a real shooting star?
✓ Answer
The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova
Ollie reveals that stars come down to his grove, drawn by his magic. Danny, Glory, and Llewelyn each grab a star and whisper their destination. They soar across the ocean to Giant's Causeway, finally flying for real.
