English-9
Mrs. Toellner
Name_____________________
Ironman Study Guide
Character Tracker
Name
Description_____________________________
Chapter 1
1. You will notice a point of view shift throughout the chapter. What are the two points of view in
this novel?
2. Who is Bo talking to in his letters? Why? Why did he choose this person?
3. What is Bo training for?
4. “Unfortunately, to reach the physical, spiritual, and emotional heights to conquer this event, I
must also endure my regular life…” (3). What does Bo need to deal with? Give examples
throughout this chapter.
5. Explain the reason Bo quit football. Would you have made the same choice? Where else does
Bo see his football coach in his life?
6. How long is Bo suspended?
7. Describe Bo’s hometown of Spokane.
8. How is Bo humiliated by Redmond in class?
9. What does Bo have to do to get back into class? If he doesn’t what will happen?
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Chapter 2 – Remember to add new characters to the character chart.
1. What are the reasons Redmond is mad at Bo? What is the main one?
2. Describe what has been going on in Bo’s family.
3. How does Lion (Mr. Serbousek) feel about Bo? What does Bo remind him of? In your opinion, is
he an adult Bo can trust? Why?
4. What choices does Bo have concerning school?
5. How does Bo feel about the “Nak Pack”?
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Chapter 3
1. Explain what happened between Bo and his father when he was nine. How does this effect him
now?
2. What worries Bo about Mr. Nak and joining his morning class?
3. Reread the two last paragraphs on page 39 continuing to the top of 40. Does this sound
familiar?
4. What deal does Bo make with Mr. S (Lion)?
5. Add the new characters you meet in Mr. Nak’s class and their description to the character chart
at the beginning of this study guide.
6. What is your opinion of Mr. Nak? Is he a likeable character?
7. What does Mr. Nak tell Joey and his family to do about the skunk that comes into their home?
What will ignoring it do? Do you think this is a good idea?
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Chapter 4
1. Reread the section that begins…“I’m afraid you might have said what most adults say…” (56).
Do you agree or disagree with the passage? Explain.
2. What happens while Bo is swimming in the morning with the college team? Does he make any
added enemies?
3. Tell me in your own words what Mr. Nak is trying to get across when he explains the situation of
adults telling their children red is green and cars are forks and spoons.
4. What does Bo realize about himself after Mr. Nak’s class that day?
5. Describe the situation with Hudgie. How does Shu feel about it? Why?
6. What effect is Mr. Nak’s class having on Bo? Does he belong in this class?
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Chapter 5
1. Compare and contrast Wyrack and Koch.
2. What happened to Bo’s face? Why?
3. What difference of opinion do Bo and his father (Lucas/Luke) have? Explain.
4. How did Redmond lose Bo’s respect? Do you agree with Bo or his father on the Redmond issue?
Why?
5. Bo’s dad tells him he is too young to understand responsibility and one day Bo will thank him.
Have you heard this before? Do you agree/disagree? Why?
6. Explain why Bo gave away his one hundred dollar bill. Do you commend him for this or think it
was a poor decision? Why?
7. Conflict List – list all the conflicts under the proper category.
Man vs Man
Man vs Society
Man vs Self__________
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Chapter 6
1. Who helps Bo fight Wyrack? How does Bo feel about this person?
2. Does Bo make his life any easier by the choices he makes (calling Redmond a “jerk”, beating Wyrack
in the pool, going along with Shelly in beating up Wyrack, etc)? Do you agree or disagree with his
actions? Explain.
3. Explain Joey’s home life based on what was said in class. Could this be contributing to his anger
issues and how?
4. What is Mr Nak’s objective in anger managements?
5. Why does Bo want to write an article about American Gladiators?
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Chapter 7
1. What is the reason Bo tells Shelly he gave his coat away? Do you agree? What does this show us
about Bo?
2. What has Shelly set up for Bo at the Yukon Jack triathlon? How does Bo feel about this? Do you
think he has a chance?
3. Summarize and comment on the interaction between Bo and his father.
4. Who do you think told Lucas Brewster all the information he knew?
5. What was Hudgie’s Christmas like?
6. What was Elvis’s Christtmas like? Where does his anger come from?
7. What is Bo learning in Mr. Nak’s class? Reread his letter to Larry King on pgs 119-121.
8. Put the advice Mr. Nak gave Bo at the end of the chapter in your own words.
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