Discussion Questions
Chapter 1: Who gave Great-aunt Silva Matilda fizzy lemonade? pp.1-15
What does Rafter mean when he says Grandpa is "an anchor"?
Why is Rafter devastated at the end of the chapter? What do you think happened?
What superpower would you most want to receive? Why? CLICK here to record your response
If I was a Baily, I would want my super power to be time travel, so I could go back in time and in to the future and make life better. For example, I could go back in time and prevent the coronavirus so no one would have to be quarantined. Also, I could use my power to prevent bad guys from breaking the law. Not to mention, that it would be useful if I forget my homework or mess up on a big test (like the EOG). Finally, I could use my power to get better knowledge of technology of the future!!! EVAN J. 5th grade
I would want my super power to be invisibility because I could get all the candy I wanted without anybody knowing. Sophia G. 2nd grade
Chapter 2: I'm always afraid of getting lava down my tights (pp.16-29)
How did grandpa try to make the boys feel better?
What does Benny do to see if his superpower is high-powered?
Who is Juanita Johnson?
Do you think Rafter's and Benny's superpowers are worthless? Could they be good for anything?
Chapter 3: Drink your Goat's Milk (pp. 30-36)
Why is Benny doing push-ups? Why isn't Rafter? Does this show anything about their different personalities?
What is Rafter's theory on why they received odd powers?
Rafter keeps referring to the flash of light that only he saw. What might this be?
Chapter 4: If he offers candy don't take it (pp.37-41)
What happened with Rafter and his friend Mike?
Why don't the police like superheros?
What wa weird about the stranger standing across the street from the school?
Chapter 5: In the bag, Benny. In the bag (pp. 42-62)
How do the boys get to watch the battle from home?
Why are the battles recorded?
The Johnson's win half of the battles, always using only four superheros at a time. How do they do that?
Compare Rafter's battle plans with how the family battles. Which would be more effective?
I think that Rafter’s plans are better because they would have his family working as a team. Also, I think that Rafter’s plans are better because it has the Bailey’s more prepared for when the Johnson’s arrive to attack. Not to mention that Rafter’s plans help the Bailey’s be ready to protect the diamond from all angles. Finally, Rafter’s plans would help the Bailey’s be in place for when they have to toss the diamond, so the Johnsons won’t intercept it, and steal it. Evan J. 5th grade
Chapter 6: I wish I'd bought a pair of suspenders (pp. 63-68)
Rafter was nervous. He "felt a twinge of terror...but..remembered Grandpa's words". Have you even been given words of encouragement that helped you through a difficult situation? What were they? How did those words help? CLICK HERE
What is Rafter's plan to confront Juanita and find out about their superpowers?
Why would Mr. Johnson be at school as a substitute teacher?
Chapter 7: Watch this (pp. 69-86)
Sometimes there is a thin line between ferocious courage and insanity. How can you tell the difference?
Why does Juanita call Benny and Rafter "villains"?
Discuss the differing views concerning crime scene situations (museum, thermal underwear factory, etc) as portrayed by Juanita versus Rafter. Who are the villains? Who are the heroes?
What happened to the library shelves?
Chapter 8: We don't even have taco night (pp. 87-91)
Juanita claims the library disaster is the Bailey brothers' fault. The brothers claim it was a result of her smashing them. Who is to blame?
Why did Benny tell Juanita about his useless power?
What worthless power do you think Juanita received?
I think that Juanita got the power of flavored saliva. She had scented breath, but she was in the library during lunch so she couldn’t have eaten anything especially something with ginger or cinnamon. Also, she kept spitting so she probably didn’t like the flavor. Not to mention that the book said that “Her face seemed to soften, and I realized for the first time that when she wasn’t scowling or spitting Juanita looked almost pretty.” Finally, Juanita admitted that it wasn’t her at the diamond heist and that it was a light shifter making her family look like her and that she was at home in bed. Evan J. 5th Grade
Chapter 9: Get the triple meat or nothing (pp. 92-107)
Compare and Contrast Rafter's and Benny's character. Send your venn diagrams to lcavaco@wcpss.net
How does Rafter's dad tell him to decide about the families feuding?
How did Rafter's dad beat the burglars?
Chapter 10: This Is Beautiful Prose, Mr. Snuggly Bear (pp. 108-111)
What did Juanita’s uncle, Mr. Johnson, do to Rafter in class?
Rafter’s classmates laugh when Mr. Johnson reads the fake love note, “...the kind of laughter kids do when they’re glad it’s somebody else who’s being made fun of and not to them.” Explain this kind of laughter. Can you relate?
Why did Juanita stand up for Rafter against Mr. Johnson?
Chapter 11: Eyes on the Johnsons, Not the Paper Towels (pp. 112-124)
Why isn’t Rafter supposed to talk to Juanita at the grocery store?
Juanita ponders the point of the feuding families. Rafter wonders how each family thinks that they are the superheroes. What do you think of all of this? Does this kind of continuous feud happen in the real world?
I think that Juanita has a point, that the families have been fighting for years over what exactly? Also, I think that Rafter has a good idea that the fighting families must have some sort of idea that both think that they are the superheroes. Not to mention that things like this happen in the real world too, (except without super heroes and super villains). For example, say that two countries are at war over what they think is the best form of government, both sides think that they are correct about the cause and are not willing to say that the other side is right, so both countries think they are the good guys. EVAN J 5th Grade
How can Juanita watch a superhero battle and look so bored and uninterested?
Chapter 12: One of Us Is About to Be Disappointed (pp. 125-139)
Rafter had always pictured the leader of the Johnsons as a witch. What does he think when he sees Juanita’s grandmother?
Review Juanita’s conversation with her grandmother. Her grandmother seems like a powerful lady, yet Juanita stands firm in her resolve to not be a super. What do you think of this? Is it difficult to stand up to an adult?
What happened to Juanita’s mother? How has this affected Juanita?
Chapter 13 – It’s Been a Rough Week (pp. 140-144)
Why would Juanita give Rafter access to the Johnsons’ entire online system?
Chapter 14 – That’s Not a Surprise, That’s a Kick in the Teeth (pp. 145-151)
Rafter keeps feeling like “there’s something going on” – something he can’t quite figure out. What do you think he’s talking about? What might be going on?
What was Dad’s surprise?
On page 150, Rafter thinks, “...my understanding of the world had been turned upside down.” What does he mean by this?
Chapter 15 – I’ve Always Wanted to Try Broccoli (pp. 152-166)
What does Grandpa say about talking with the Johnsons and trying to come up with a truce?
Describe the motor pool. How was it different than what Rafter expected?
Why don’t the Baileys use these machines/vehicles?
Rafter is feeling discouraged and dejected. So is Benny. How do each of them handle their emotions?
Chapter 16 – I Don’t Even Think That’s Correct Grammar (pp. 167-174)
Why do you think Oscar Redding stopped trying to reconcile the families?
Rodney assumes October J is a member of the Johnson family. What do you think?
If what Rodney thinks is true, then Juanita is lying to Rafter. What do you think? Can you tell when someone is lying?
Chapter 17 – To the Mitsubishi! (pp. 175-179)
Grandpa suggests that everyone leave town. Rafter’s dad is determined to face the villains even without superpowers. Does this surprise you about these characters? What would you do?
Rafter and Benny don’t want to stay home. What can they do?
Chapter 18 – It’s the Only Day of the Year We Get to Eat Caramel (pp. 180-188)
Why has someone been trying to keep the Johnsons and the Baileys fighting and in a constant feud with one another? Is this a real-life tactic?
Juanita, Rafter, and Benny set off to find the supervillain. None of them has real powers. What can they possibly do?
Chapter 19 – This Is No Ordinary Glove Compartment (pp. 189-196)
Why didn’t the kids call their parents to tell them about what they found at the dump? Would you have called them? Have you ever not informed your parent of something because you knew they would disapprove?
From the description of the setting at the dump, what might be going on? (RV, satellite, van, special phone, etc.)
Chapter 20 – It’s Probably Safe to Assume You Don’t Get Invited to a Lot of Parties (pp. 197-199)
Charles is a villain from an entirely different family. How does that change things?
Well, it means that there is a family that actually is a threat to the city. Also, it means that the Baileys and the Johnsons have been being stalked for years, so now the Jones know every move from each family. Not to mention that it means that the Jones have been experimenting with their super powers ever since the first Bailey or Johnson got their super power. Finally, now the Jones have an advantage, because the Baileys and the Johnsons don’t know any of the Jones powers. Evan J 5th Grade
Chapter 21 – I Don’t Feel Like Holding Hands Right Now (pp. 200-211)
Why is Charles Jones after the three kids with worthless powers?
Charles Jones comments that the two families were “...so concerned about looking heroic and fighting with the other family that [they] didn’t even notice the real threat to the city.” Have you ever seen other examples of people getting so preoccupied with small things that they miss something really important?
What are the odds that three kids could have taken down an adult?
Chapter 22 – Do You Feel It? (pp. 212-217)
Rafter wondered, “What do you do when somebody says she’s okay, but she doesn’t appear to be okay?” Has this ever happened to you? What do you do?
Describe the feelings of excitement and relief that Rafter must have felt when he found out his true power. Why is this so important to him?
Chapter 23 – Would You Be So Kind As to Explain This Mess? (pp. 218-224)
What is suspicious about the giant? What does Rafter figure out?
How does Rafter get his dad to stop fighting the Johnsons and come to the dump?
How do Rafter, Juanita, and Benny work as a team?
Chapter 24 – My Name Is Rafter (pp. 225-229)
October Jones doesn’t even wear a supersuit. Why not?
October Jones doesn’t wear a super suit because he is a super-super with every superpower, so that means that he is invincible and he doesn’t need a super suit. Also, he could be weighed down by the suit, so it might make him worse than if he didn’t have it. Not to mention that it means that he can get to battles faster because he doesn’t need to take time to put on a super suit. Finally, I think that it might be more threatening to his enemy’s so they might be like “I don’t want to fight him. He doesn’t even have a super suit”. Evan J 5th Grade
Would it be possible to win a battle against a Super-super?
Chapter 25 – Do You See That? (pp. 230-232)
The Bailey and Johnson families are on the way to the dump. Why is this both good and bad news?
“It’s not your power that makes you super. It’s what you do with that power.” Explain what this means. Could it apply to more than just superpowers?
Chapter 26 – I Have a Question for You, Mr. Jones (pp. 233-234)
What will happen when Rafter pushes the button on Charles’s phone? How does this take away October Jones’s power? Why would Rafter do this?
Chapter 27 – Don’t Think This Over (pp. 235-238)
Rafter had a GREAT superpower – strength. He gave up his superpower in order to outsmart the villain. Is this a good idea? Now his whole family is without helpful powers. What would you have done in that situation?
I think that it is a good idea if it makes the super villain lose their powers. Also, I think that it is a good last resort if you really need to use, it because you don’t want to give up a great super power for nothing. Not to mention, that if you are fighting a person who knows how to make another machine then you can just get your power back the next time they try to the same thing. Finally, I would have done the same thing, but at the end I would get my power back before they destroyed the tower (right after I get back to the ground). Evan J 5th Grade
At the end of chapter 27, Rafter has lost his real power. However, he says he “...felt almost super.” What does this mean? How could he possibly feel super? What might be more powerful than a superpower?
Chapter 28 – You Can’t Just Ignore the Laws of Mathematics (pp. 239-246)
The Johnsons and Baileys immediately begin yelling and chest-poking when they get out of the car. Does this seem logical or illogical? What might the author be trying to show the readers?
How did Rafter get Grandpa Bailey and Grandmother Johnson to reach an agreement? Have you ever had to get opposing sides to get along? What are some successful strategies?
Chapter 29 – No One Answered (pp. 247-251)
What happened to the Johnsons and Baileys in other cities?
Reread the ending of the novel on page 251. Does this sound like there could be a sequel? What might happen next?
THE END