Russell and Elisa

Thinking Cap Questions

Written by Barbara and Kelsey

 

Chapter 1-2

1.    In Chapter 1, have you ever felt as excited as Elisa when she was writing the letter to her grandmother?

2.    In Chapter 1, do you think Russell was jealous of Elisa because she got a gift?

3.    In Chapter 2, would you have cut Annie’s hair? Why? Why not?

4.    In Chapter 2, compare Elisa’s mother’s reactions to Annie’s mother’s reactions when they saw that Annie’s hair had been cut.

5.    At the end of Chapter 2, should Elisa’s mother have punished Russell for cutting Annie’s hair?

 

Chapter 3-4

1.    In Chapter 3, rewrite one scene from the Michaels’ dinner party, for example you might write about when the Michaels’ greeted their guests.

2.    In Chapter 3, what event may have been different if Elisa had not gotten Airmail from under her bed, but had instead waited until the party was over?

3.    Sequence four scenes of Chapter 3 in order.

4.    Suppose you were the author of this story. What would you change in Chapter 3? If there was nothing you wanted to change, explain why.

5.    Does Elisa depend on Airmail’s being there to help her through things? If so, what things do Elisa need Airmail with her to do, and how much do you think Elisa depends on Airmail?

6.    In Chapter 4, solve Russell’s problem of needing his normal bedtime things when he goes on Teddy Resnick’s sleepover date.

7.    In Chapter 4, do you think Russell is a responsible person? Defend your answer.

 

Chapter 5-6

1. In Chapter 5, rewrite a scene from the baseball game.

2. In Chapter 5, what lifeskills do you think Russell and Elisa used when they wanted to stay at the baseball game?

3. In Chapter 6, do you agree or disagree about the way Elisa acted about Airmail’s disappearance?

4. In Chapter 6, write questions you would ask to Elisa, Russell, and Airmail. Explain why you want to know this about them.

5. Write a question that you think would make people think for the answer, and then answer this question for yourself.

6. Would you like Russell for a brother? Explain.