Closed for the Season

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. Bear (Chapter 1)

2. He has tattoos. (Chapter 2)

3. Errol G. Lacey (Chapter 2)

4. Mrs. Donaldson, former owner of Logan’s new home and supposed murder victim (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. Logan’s initial impression of the house is that it is very run-down and neglected. His parents encourage him to keep an open mind about the possibilities of the house, but his new neighbor, Arthur, tells him of the murder that occurred there, which further increases Logan’s worry. Logan confronts his parents about the murders, but his objections are largely ignored. (Chapters 1-2)

2. Logan thinks Arthur talks too much and feels uncomfortable with the information he imparts about the house. He also disapproves of Arthur’s gluttony (as does Logan’s mother), as Arthur devours much of the cake that was intended for Logan’s family as a gift. Arthur’s topics of conversation tend to be negative; for example, he describes the local pizza place as being full of roaches and rats. (Chapter 2)

3. Logan’s parents tend to be overprotective of him while Arthur’s grandmother is more relaxed. For example, Logan’s parents insist he wears a helmet while Arthur’s grandmother told him wearing a helmet “take[s] all the fun out of bike riding.” (Chapter 3)

Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. Silas Phelps (Chapter 5)

2. Danny Phelps (Chapter 6)

3. Billy (Chapter 7)

Short Answer

1. Mrs. Donaldson is Danny’s grandmother (and the woman who died in Logan’s house). Arthur explains to Logan that he and Danny were friends when they were little, but now, Danny bullies Arthur. Danny’s father is described as a violent man who attacked Mrs. Donaldson’s daughter (his wife). It is possible Danny became a bully because of his father’s violent nature. (Chapters 5-8, including Chapter 6)

2. Arthur often views others as less intelligent than himself. For example, he accuses Logan of not being smart enough to understand the comic strip Zippy and Pinhead. He also claims that Billy is ignorant for knowing nothing about Aesir and Thor. (Chapters 7-8)

3. Arthur asks Logan to pay for photocopies while they are in the library and is picked on by Danny for his beaten bicycle. He offers to pay Logan back, but never does. (Chapters 5-8)

Chapters 9-12

Reading Check

1. The Magic Forest bag and a letter (Chapter 10)

2. A map (Chapter 11)

3. Stamp due dates on blank cards (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. Arthur and Logan are curious about Mrs. Donaldson’s possessions and want to discover what happened to her. While in the attic, Bear locates a bag full of plastic toys from the Magic Forest and a letter to Violet. In the letter, Mrs. Donaldson tells Violet where to find a briefcase full of stolen money using a game they used to play. (Chapter 9)

2. Arthur tends to be less aware of his environment and the emotions of others while Logan is highly sensitive to his surroundings. Arthur, for example, is not bothered by Violet’s tears and continues to press her for answers regarding her mother’s death, while Logan quietly observes. Likewise, when the two approach the Phelps and Jarmon property, Logan is afraid while Arthur is not intimidated by the signs. Additionally, Arthur is willing to do things Logan considers immoral, such as stealing the map from the library. (Chapters 10-12)

3. Danny asks his father for a motorcycle ride but is brushed aside and left feeling disappointed and rejected. He attempts to approach his older brothers but is rejected. Danny feels that he does not belong in his family; this likely connects to his bullying Arthur and others. (Chapters 6 and 11)

Chapters 13-16

Reading Check

1. Elanor Beale, wife of the town founder (Chapter 13)

2. Rhoda DiSilvio (Chapter 15)

3. Washington, DC (Chapter 15)

Short Answer

1. Arthur claims that he does not care about his mother because she has never attempted to contact him; he claims to feel the same way she does about him (indicating neither care for the other). He has lived with his grandmother his entire life. Arthur, however, also claims to have pretended to be the boy in the statue with Elanor Beale, indicating he may indeed wish he had been close to his mother. (Chapter 13)

2. Initially, Logan disliked Arthur because of his crude behaviors; Arthur might impede Logan’s chances to make other friends and be more popular than he was in Richmond. Having spent time with Arthur, Logan now defends him in front of peers and his own mother. For example, when Logan’s mother criticizes Arthur, Logan attempts to stand up for Arthur and appears to ignore his mother’s claims that Arthur will make him unpopular at school. Additionally, Logan defends Arthur to Anthony who makes fun of Logan for his loyalty to Arthur. (Chapter 14)

3. Rhoda’s son, Anthony, openly criticizes Logan’s family for being poor. The family questions Logan about sports and laughs at him when they realize he is not involved in any. Mr. DiSilvio threatens Logan and tells him to stay away from the Magic Forest. Logan’s mother, on the other hand, believes the DiSilvios are a “nice family.” (Chapters 14-16)

Chapters 17-21

Reading Check

1. Mr. DiSilvio (Chapter 17)

2. The Magic Forest (Chapter 21)

3. Danny (Chapter 21)

Short Answer

1. Danny meets up with Logan and Arthur while he is looking for his mother. Danny’s father, Silas, kidnapped his mother Violet, and hurt Danny to discover the location of the hidden money. Danny goes with Logan and Arthur to the amusement park to protect his mother. Danny attempts to protect his mother when he witnesses Silas hurting her. Silas turns his attack on Danny and Bear, hitting the dog. Danny refuses to provide an alibi for Silas. He is motivated to protect his mother and Bear. (Chapters 18-20)

2. It is revealed that Nina is an undercover policeman. She fabricated the story about the library to Mrs. Forbes because the boys were interfering with her police investigation. She later convinces Mrs. Forbes to allow Logan to spend time with Arthur. (Chapters 20-21)

3. In Chapter 2, Logan hopes that termites will ruin his home so his family can move to a new home in Fair Oaks. Having made friends with Arthur and defeated Mr. DiSilvio and Silas, however, Logan and Arthur have gained popularity and esteem with peers. His friendship with Arthur is more accepted, and he is now looking forward to the rest of the school year. (Chapters 2 and 21)