Name: ________________________________________
Class Period: ____________
Spring Semester Final Guide
1. What does the narrator mean when he says “The best time to cry is at night?” the best time to cry is
at night because no one can hear you for the screaming of prisoners being abused in their cells.
2. Describe the narrator. 16 year old narrator who is accused of giving the signal to rob a local drug
store which resulted in the store’s owner being shot and killed. He must separate himself from the
other criminals to prove his innocence.
3. What does Miss O’Brien say is the “wonder and beauty of the American Justice System”? The beauty
of the justice system is that those who are accused my face their accuser and the right to a fair trials.
4. According to characters in the story, who are the best people to rob? The best people to rob are
people who are in America illegally. Why? They will not call the police to report the robbery.
5. Why do they take away shoelaces and belts in jail? Guards take shoe laces and belts away so prisoners
could not hang themselves.
6. Describe the conflicts that the narrator is experiencing. The conflicts that Steve suffers are he is trying
to believe that he is not a Monster.
7. Why does Steve laugh when King tries to scare him with threatening looks? Steve believes that all he
has seen and experienced in prison, King doesn’t faze him anymore.
8. Describe Osvaldo Cruz? Osvaldo is a 14 year old wanna be tough guys. He is a member of the
neighborhood gang called The Diablos.
9. Name three actions of Osvaldo that Miss O’Brien points out to show that his is NOT a fearful person.
Three reasons that Miss O’Brien presents in court are: he is a gang member whom had to be jumped
into the gang, had to cut a stranger in the face, and he beat up on his girlfriend.
10. What does Mr. Harmon dream for his baby boy? Mr. Harmon dreamed that his son would go to
Morehouse College and play football for the school.
11. “I never seen my father cry before. He wasn’t crying like I thought a man would cry.” What does the
narrator mean? Steve has never seen a man cry. And he wasn’t prepared to see his father weeping.
12. Steve thinks that his father thinks the same as Miss O’Brien. What do they think? That Steve may be
what Miss Petrocelli is calling him, a monster.
13. According to Miss O’Brien, Miss Petrocelli plays a cheap trick in court. What does she do? Miss
Petrocelli has jurors look at the crime scene photos. Why? She does this so the images will be on the
minds of the jurors over the long weekend. (127)
14. According to Dr. Moody, how does Mr. Nesbitt die? According to Dr. Moody, Mr. Nesbitt died from
the injury of being shot. The bullet tore his lung cause him to drown on his own blood.
15. Describe Steve and James King’s reaction to Dr. Moody’s testimony. During the testimony, Steve took
a sharp breath and dropped his head. James King tilted his head in the air not seeming to care about
what has been said. How do they differ? This may be the first time Steve is hearing the details of Mr.
Nesbitt’s death. James knows Nesbitt is dead and isn’t fazed by it.
16. What does the basketball in the gutter symbolize? ( page 119) The basketball could symbolize Steve’s
life going to the gutter, meaning prison.
17. Describe Mrs. Harmon. Mrs. Harmon is a strong woman, who is spiritual and believes that her son is
innocent.
18. . Why does King’s lawyer want to make sure the jury connects him to Steve? Mr. Briggs wants King
and Steve to remain connected because there is no evidence proving that Steve was part of the crime.
19. What is the purpose of Nipping’s testimony? Mr. Nipping’s testimony is that James King is left
handed. What is Mr. Briggs trying to establish through this testimony? Briggs is trying to present
reasonable doubt to the jury that since King is left-handed, he didn’t shoot Mr. Nesbitt. ( pgs 211-212)
20. Why does O’Brien decide Steve should testify? Miss O’Brien believes that they jury wants to hear
Steve’s side of the story. Steve is only one who can truthfully tell jurors what did or did not happen
on the day of the murder and his role. ( pg 216)
21. Why couldn’t King testify? According to Miss O’Brien, King lied to detectives that he did not know
Bobo. Because of that Miss Petrocelli and bring it up and make him testify that he lied. ( pg 216)
22. What game did O’Brien and Steve play? They play a “cup “game. O’Brien would turn the cup “up”
is she liked the answer Steve gave. She would turn it face down if she didn’t like that answer. Why?
They play this game, to be sure that Steve answers questions correctly while on the stand.( pg 216217)
23. What does Steve say truth is? Steve thinks the truth is what you know to be right. What does Inmate
2 say is truth? Inmate 2 says that truth is about survival. You say whatever keeps you out of jail. The
truth is saying whatever is needed to survive.
24. Does Steve tell the truth on the witness stand? Yes Explain. He keeps his answers short. His answers
are consistent and he doesn’t let Miss Petrocelli tramp him or get into an argument with her.
(opinion pgs 223-234)
25. Summarize Mr. Sawicki’s testimony? Mr. Sawicki testifies that Steve is an honest young man. If he
says he was noting locations for his film then the jury should believe him. He says Steve is honest in
his filmmaking as well by stating that in order to make an honest film the director must be a honest
person. ( pg235-237)
26. What main points does Briggs make in his closing arguments to the jury? Mr. Briggs points out that
Osvaldo and Bobo have testified to being part of the robbery and there is no need to judge or
convict James King.
27. What main points does O’Brien make in her final arguments to the jury? Miss O’Brien points out that
through all the testimonies there is no evidence that Steve participated, therefore, he should be found
not guilty.
28. According to Petrocelli, what is this case about? Miss Petrocelli says the case about monsters who have
taken the life of an innocent man. She says that all parties involved from the check- out man to the
shooter are equally responsible from Mr. Nesbitt’s death.
29. What does Steve say the reason is that so many guys in jail talk about appeals? They believe they are
innocent and want to plead their case.
30. What is O’Brien’s reaction to Steve’s open arms to give her a hug? Miss O’Brien’s body tenses up and
turns away from his embrace.
31. What is Steve doing with his camera? Steve makes self-movies around the house specifically in the
mirror. He wears different clothes and makes the film from different angles. Why? He wants to know
who he really is.
32. What did Steve’s father say to him after the trial? After the trial, Steve’s dad told him that he was
thankful that he did not have to see Steve go to jail.
33. What final question is Steve trying to answer? Steve is trying to figure out what did Miss O’Brien see
that made her turn away from him.
Section II: Vocabulary - be able to identify the correct word in the context of the sentence.
34. menace
35. jury
36. perjury
37. acquitted
38. testify
39. affirmation
40. verdict
41. condescending
42. judicial
43. objection
44.acquaintance