BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSTwelve-year-old Kimmy Jones is finally old enough to help her family with their strangest tradition: waking the recently dead in the basement of the Jones Family Funeral Home so they can share one last wish before they go back to rest. She trains under her sharp-tongued grandmother, Bev, proud to carry on a secret power passed down through generations of Joneses and hidden from the rest of the world. But when tragedy strikes her family, Kimmy suddenly finds herself the only one left who can use the family gift, and something about her power starts to feel different. Months later, when a boy her own age turns up dead in the local park with no explanation, Kimmy breaks every rule she has ever been taught and sneaks into the hospital morgue to wake him herself, setting off a chain of events that pulls her into a mystery about why so many people who come through the funeral home seem to be missing the spark of unfinished business they should have.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities
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 Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities. 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 stepfather sing a tune whose only lyrics are "diGESTive BIScuits"?
✓ Answer
Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities by Casey Lyall
Nobody touched the cookies at Alma's service, so Alex dumps them in the garbage with a flourish while doing a high pitched imitation of Grandma Bev's rant. Bev finally hears him and chases him and Kimmy out of the room with a broom.
- First half
In what book does an old journal complain in capital letters about being made to sit and breathe?
✓ Answer
Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities by Casey Lyall
One entry that never fails to make Kimmy laugh is twelve year old Nathan raging in thick black slashes of ink that all he wants to do is play soccer with his friend Paul. It lets her picture her dad as an ordinary annoyed kid stuck doing the same breathing drills she had to do.
- First half
In what book is a spark small with torn edges and cold blue streaks running through it?
✓ Answer
Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities by Casey Lyall
Every spark Kimmy has handled before has been warm, bright, and calm, but Devon Sawyer's is chaotic and feels like wrangling an angry cat. Those cold blue streaks are the first sign that whatever happened to him in the park was not natural.
- Second half
In what book is a murderous witch a former healer whose whole family died of tuberculosis?
✓ Answer
Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities by Casey Lyall
Tamsin explains that the villain was born Cecilia West with healing magic, but she could not save her family and twisted her power to save herself. Stealing life forces is the only thing keeping her alive a hundred years later.
- Second half
In what book does a boy hear "May I help you?" from his own mother at the door?
✓ Answer
Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities by Casey Lyall
Devon knocks on his own front door and discovers the witch's memory spell erased him completely, even from his parents. He tells his mother he has the wrong address and goes to sit on the curb across the street.
- Near the end
In what book is a man's last wish to have his ashes spread along a trail in the park?
✓ Answer
Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities by Casey Lyall
Ed Kingsley has no family left to scatter him, so he asks the Jones family to do it somewhere he can enjoy the sunshine. Insisting on last wishes is how Kimmy makes sure they do this properly instead of quickly.
