Longfellow Battlers: Project Mulberry

Who wrote Project Mulberry?

• Linda Sue Park

• Choi Suk-hee

• Baek Hee-na

• Shin Se-mi

Seventh-graders Julia Song and her friend Patrick set out to do a project for the State Fair as part of their Work, Grow, Give, and Live (WGGL - or "Wiggle") Club, run by Mr. Maxwell. What is their project?

• to make kimchee more spicy and more sustainable

• to grow silkworms (animal husbandry) and embroider the life cycle of the silkworm (domestic arts)

• to help Kenny start a 50 States Quarters collection

• to help Hugh, Ben, and Nicholas start a videography business

Julia moved to Plainfield in 5th grade. Where did she live before?

• Chicago

• Champaign

• Carbondale

• Countryside

Julia and Patrick joined the Wiggle Club in January and the State Fair is in August. The story starts in March, and soon Patrick goes to the library and checks out many books on sericulture (silk farming). Who gave them the silkworm idea?

• Julia's mom; her Grandmother had farmed silk in Korea

• Kenny, who was always sparking mints in the bathroom

• Julia's dad, who thought they could get about a mile of silk from each cocoon based on his research at the University

• Patrick's high school sisters Claire and Katie

• Susan B. Anthony, who traveled through time to tell them about some beautiful black silk she was given for her 80th birthday

What life lessons can you learn from this book? Check all that apply...

• You might remember things better if you think about or read about them right before going to sleep.

• Every story has another story inside. And if the main character didn't have a problem or two, there wouldn't be any story.

• (Good) fiction is about the truth, even if it is not always factual. If you want to get really good at something like fiction (or embroidery) pay attention to the little things, because it is the little things that add up to make the big picture.

• Good friends can tell when the other one is mad. But if someone is carrying on, you can't have a good conversation.

• You don't know what you don't know (Julia didn't read the book about silkworms so she didn't know about the boiling). In life, the more you know about things, the more you can appreciate them.

Which State Quarter, which depicts the "Charter Oak," eludes Julia, and who finally finds one for her?

• Connecticut; Kenny

• Illinois; Mr. Dixon

• Florida; Mrs. Moran, their tech arts teacher

• Utah; both of Julia's grandfathers, who were teachers

What is the capital of Korea?

• Seoul (population 10 million)

• Busan (population 4 million)

• Incheon (population 3 million)

• Daegu (population 3 million)

Who does the dishes after dinner at Julia's house?

• Julia scrapes them and her father puts them in the dishwasher

• Julia

• Kenny

• Patrick

What kind of homework assignments have Julia and Patrick worked on together? Check all that apply...

• Ancient Civilizations of the New World (Maya = BEG Mex : Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and parts of Mexico)

• Exponents

• Get to Know Your Community, Model of a Water Molecule, Pleistocene-Era Mini-Landscape, Revolutionary War Diorama

• Leaf collection in fifth grade (everything but Mulberry it seemed, except the indoor hibiscus)

What is Julia's (uncharitable) nickname for her brother, who she also calls a maelstrom of destruction?

• Dumbhead

• Snotbrain

• Punkface

• Boogerbrat