Almost Home

Question 1

What does Sugar call her father?

Answer 1

Mr. Leeland

Question 2

What is Sugar’s dog’s name?

Answer 2

Shush

Question 3

Why was the cat named Butterbutt?

Answer 3

Because, when he was a kitten, he sat on a stick of butter and it was really hard to get off.

Question 4

What does Sugar call her mother?

Answer 4

Reba

Question 5

How does Sugar get her name?

Answer 5

She was born in the backseat of a Chevy in a parking lot of the Sugar Shack before they could get to the hospital.

Question 6

Why is Reba put into the hospital?

Answer 6

She had a mental breakdown.

Question 7

What is the main reason why Sugar and her mom (Reba) are poor?

Answer 7

Sugar’s father, Mr. Leeland, used all their money to pay his gambling debts, and also used it for drinking.

Question 8

What color does Mr. Bennett paint his scratched classroom wall in the end?

Answer 8

Red

Question 9

What does Sugar do after Merlin (the dog) dies?

Answer 9

She gets a peach scented candle and lights it on fire as a tribute.

Question 10

What color is Reba’s room in the end?

Answer 10

Blush Rose

Question 11

What does Sugar do almost every night while Reba is in the hospital?

Answer 11

Write a mental poem/thank you letter, in her head.

Question 12

Who was King Cole? What does Sugar have of his that helps her through life?

Answer 12

He was Sugar’s maternal grandfather, a book he wrote of things he learned in life.

Question 13

What does Sugar imagine herself as every time she is with her father? (Mr. Leeland)

Answer 13

A Stone Girl

Question 14

What is the main reason why Sugar and her mom are homeless?

Answer 14

The family wasn’t paying their bills.

Question 15

How did Sugar end up having a dog?

Answer 15

A girl begged her to take the dog because her dad was abusing him and was going to take the dog to the pound.

Question 16

Why do Sugar and Reba not go to Evie’s house?

Answer 16

Reba just wanted to get out of the shelter, so she judged that the number that Evie sent her months ago was still in signal. She told Sugar that she talked to Evie and that she is getting a cleaning job and that they are staying at Evie’s house. Once they arrive in Chicago, Reba still hasn’t called Evie to ask, and when she tries to call, there is no signal.

Question 17

What does the medicine given to Reba make her feel?

Answer 17

The medicine makes her feel tired, though she doesn’t seem to sleep. When Sugar comes to visit her, she is sitting on a chair with her head to the window.

Question 18

How was she able to get food for the dog?

Answer 18

Sugar was able to persuade the manager to pay for the dog food because Sugar was going to raise the dog to be a service dog.

Question 19

While Sugar is in school Mr Bennett inspires and encourages her in what subject?

Answer 19

Writing (and advertising)

Question 20

Eventually, Sugar and her mother, Reba, are kicked out of their home by the bank. Explain all of the places Sugar lives throughout the book.

Answer 20

In Reba’s car, with a cousin named Guernsey, a shelter, travel to Chicago and end up in a hospital and a group house, then Sugar ends up in foster care with Lexie and Mac.

Question 21

Why does Sugar feel guilty while staying at Lexie and Mac’s house?

Answer 21

Because she has a very nice living arrangement with a pretty room, new clothes, food to eat, somewhere to bathe, etc., while her mom is stuck in a hospital and later goes back to a shelter to live.

Question 22

Sugar meets a girl named Joonie who has invented a planet named Ziddo where all parents have to go to parent education (PE) class to learn how to be good, trusting parents. What does “The WOOZ is in.” mean and who does it refer to?

Answer 22

It stands for “the Wise One Of Ziddo.” It refers to Joonie.

Question 23

Both Sugar and Reba are able to eventually get jobs. What are they?

Answer 23

Sugar: walking dogs and painting neighbor’s front doors

Reba: cleaning houses, working at the Sweet Spot ice cream shop