Heat by Lupica
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What ballpark is first mentioned in the book? Yankee Stadium
What is one of the two constants in Mrs. Cora’s life? Baseball or the thump,
thump, thump of another train
Why was Mrs. Cora carrying $100 cash in her purse? To buy groceries
What happened to Mrs. Cora in front of Stan’s Bar and Restaurant? She was
robbed/ knocked down/purse stolen
What does Ramon think is his only skill? He’s fast
What caused Ramon to stop running? He got hit by a baseball
How did they get from Pinar del Rio to Big Pine Key, FL? By boat
Where is the Little League World Series held? Williamsport, PA
What is chorizo? Cuban Sausage
What two languages do Michael and Carlos speak? Spanish and English
What is Michaels birth name? Miguel
What does Carlos keep slamming into the drawer? The (Con Ed) bill
Is Michael right or left handed? Left
What do Michaels’ teammates call him? Little Grand (El Grandecito in Spanish)
What is Rule Number One at Michaels home? Never answer the phone without
Carlos home
What sporting good store sponsored Michaels’ first team? Modell’s
What position does Manny play? Catcher
What is the magic number (speed) that none of the pitchers fastballs in Little
League have reached? 80 mph
What kind of pitch is bad for Michaels arm, or any Little League pitcher? A
curveball
How many innings do Little League rules allow you to pitch in one week? 6
What position does Michael love to play, getting a chance to run across the
outfield? Center Field
How did El Grande’s wife and kids get to America from Cuba? On a (spider) boat
Michael faced 13 batters from Westchester South. How many did he strike out?
10
What did Justin (the kid on the Westchester team) get suspended from the next
game for doing? Throwing his bat against the back screen
Who is the fastest person on Michaels team? Kel
Where is Michaels’ father? He died in May
Where does the coach, and others, think Michaels father is? In Florida, with his ill
uncle
How did Papi die? A heart attack
Who knew what happened to Papi, besides Carlos and Michael? Mrs. Cora (and
Manny p.42)
What were Papi’s final words? Keep my boys together
What did the boys bury with Papi in his casket? Papi’s old catchers mitt and the
new ball he and Michael played catch with the day before he died
What is El Grande’s jersey number? 33
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When the mystery girl shows up again at the ball field, what does she do that’s so
amazing? Throw the ball far
What does Manny think Michael can’t do in a coherent manner? Talk to girls
What was written on Ellies’ tshirt that she wore the first day she threw the ball
with Michael and Manny? Girls rule Boys drool
What position does Ellie play in her first game with Michael and Manny? Pitcher
What did Michael and Manny bet that Manny wouldn’t get the ball in play when
Ellie pitched to him for the first time? Dinners at McDonalds
Why are Officer Crandall and Mr. Lima at the ball park to see Michael? To invite
him and his parents to get their picture taken with Mr. Amorosa because Michael
is a hero (for stopping the thief that stole Mrs. Cora’s purse)
Who is the Bronx bourough president? Mr. Amorosa
What was Michaels reason for running off from Mr. Lima and Officer Crandall?
Ellie ran off
What did Michael tell Manny to tell Officer Crandall and Mr. Lima as he ran off?
That it’s the first day of his whole life that he started chasing girls
What is the name of Michaels Little League team? Clippers
What does Manny call his instrument? His catchers equipment – mask, chest
protector, shin guards
What rule does Mr. Minyana remind the boys of when they are waiting to play a
game against Justin and Westchester South? No trash talk
What word does Kel say a lot, a favorite word, that he can make a question, an
exclamation, show surprise or anger or even end the conversation? Dude
What do Michael and his team nickname Justin from the Westchester South team?
Justin the Jerk
Who do the Clippers guess the coach of the Westchester South team is? Justin’s
dad
What happened on the last pitch Justin threw to Michael? Hit him in the head
What brand of gum is Manny constantly chomping on? Orbit Bubblemint
Where did the baseball Justin threw hit Michaels head? Tip of the helmet/the bill
What does Michael pick up on right away about an ump? If they care about the
game, have passion or if they’re just going through the motions
In Little League, what do you have to wear on the bases? A helmet
What pitch did Michael throw to Justin? A curveball
What did Justin think was goin to happen with the ball Michael pitched to him?
Hit him in the head
What did the ump call the curveball that Michael threw to Justin? Strike
What team laughed at Justin when he ducked away and fell in the dirt away from
Michaels pitch? His own team, Westchester South
Who was waiting outside Michaels building with Mrs. Cora when his coach, Mr.
Minaya, dropped him off after their game against Westchester South? Mr. Lima,
from the Bronx Borough President’s office
What does Mrs. Cora think can cure just about anything? Food
What is the greatest cookies ever invented? Oreos
Who says “Just play hard and have fun”? Mr. Minaya
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When Michael notices Ellie up on the hill while he’s pitching during a game and
he lifts his leg up really high like El Grande, what happens? His toe gets caught
and he falls on his butt
Who made an official complaint, demanding that the Clippers produce Michaels’
birth certificate? Westchester South
What is generally an acceptable alternative to show proof of age for foreign born
players? A baptism certificate
Why do they want Michael to bring his birth certificate? To prove he’s only 12
What did the District 22 Board of Directors decide to do until a proper birth
certificate was provided by Michael? Michael would not be eligible to play
Why does Michael figure that Justin’s dad wrote the letter to the Board of
Directors and that other coaches signed it as well? Because he’s too good
Who always said that anybody could get knocked down, it was how you picked
yourself up that was important? Papi
Who was waiting to talk to Michael after the game that he didn’t play in? Mr.
Gibbs
Whose side is Mr. Gibbs on – Michaels or the teams questioning his age?
Michaels
When Mr. Gibbs is talking with Michael after the game and tells him that he’s on
his side and things will be ok, what does Michael start to do, that he just can’t
stop? He starts crying
Why does Michael tell Manny to call him later instead of just telling him on the
bus ride home about his conversation with Mr. Gibbs? He doesn’t want his team
mates to hear what the conversation was about
While watching the Yankees game on tv, Michael sees El Grande’s oldest
daughter. Who is she? Ellie, the girl he’s played ball with
Who went to have their picture taken with Mr. Amorosa and Officer Crandall?
Mrs. Cora, Michael and Carlos
What is one of the gifts Mr. Amorosa presented to Michael as a ‘reward’ for
stopping the purse snatcher? Baseball signed by the Yankee starting pitchers
(including El Grande) and a Bronx Good Citizen plaque with his name on it
What did people nickname Manny Cabrera? No Neck
When Mr. Gibbs was asking Michael so many questions, when Michael was alone
with him, what did Michael end up saying in the end about his father? That he
would be back day after tomorrow
What is Manny’s idea to ask Uncle Timo to do? Pretend to be Papi
Michael says he wants Manny to come over for moral support when he tells
Carlos about his conversation with Mr. Gibbs. What does Manny say Michael
really wants him for? A human shield
What made Michaels heart sink the fist time he met Uncle Timo? He sounded
more American than baseball announcers
When Uncle Timo is getting into character to become Papi, Manny refers to one
of their all time favorite movies in which a guy tells himself to “be the ball”.
What movie did he refer to? Caddyshack
What is Carlos’ big secret? That he’s not working at Hector’s – he’s scalping
tickets outside of Yankee Stadium
p.124 Who is Carlos’ new boss scalping tickets? Ramon Crespo (the thief who tried to
steal Mrs. Cora’s purse)
p.124 How did Carlos’ lose his job at Hector’s Bronx Café? He got laid off
p.128 What does Manny do as a joke sometimes when Michael throws a really fast pitch
into his mitt? Fall on his butt
p.130 What was Ellie’s reaction to Michael when he told Ellie he knew who she was?
They had a back and forth with words and she walked away from him, very upset
p.133 What candy bar does Michael usually pick out from the checkout at Imperial
Market when he goes there with Mrs. Cora to help carry her groceries home?
Nutrageous
p.133 What does Michael think Mrs. Cora’s apartment always smells like? Flowers,
even when he can’t see any
p.133 Who does Mrs. Cora believe is an angel on Earth? Oprah
p.139 When Michael and Manny are waiting for Uncle Timo and Mr. Gibbs, who gets
there first? Mr. Gibbs
p.141 What was so surprising when Uncle Timo showed up? He looked just like Papi
p.142 What was the tattoo of that Uncle Timo had gotten that was just like Papi’s? A
bird – a tocoroco, the national bird of Cuba
p.143 Why did Papi call Michael his little mouse? Because from the time he was born
he made little squeaks in his crib
p.148 How was Uncle Timo’s performance for Mr. Gibbs? Perfect
p.151 Where does Mr. Minaya want Michael to coach in their first play off game? Third
base
p.156 What is the magic number of pitches that Mr. Minaya will not let a pitcher pitch
past? 60
p.157 When coach sends Kel to pitch and he’s all nervous and says no way, Manny did
his signature move. What was it? To make his famous whoopee cushion noise
p.160 Michael called a time out when Bobby was up to bat. Why? To talk to Bobby and
coach him on what to do to get a hit
p.161 Who was on third base that Michael told to be ready to run when Bobby hits the
ball? Maria
p.162 What was the final score of the first playoff game against the Robins? 1-0
p.164 Michael “made his 2 thumbs and 2 index fingers into the W that every single
member of the Clippers knew meant one thing.” What does it mean? Whatever
p.166 As Michael walked home he saw Ramon being walked to the white NYPD van.
What made it such a bad dream? They were taking Carlos, too
p.169 What happened to Carlos after he was taken into the NYPD van? He was brought
back out, talked to by the Officer, and told to go home
p.170 Who had Carlos called from the police van? Mrs. Cora
p.177 Where is the one game Michael most wants Ellie to see him pitch in, the one that
gets the Clippers to Williamsport? Yankee Stadium
p.178 What movie does Michael think about when he’s planning how to see Ellie again,
that it’s no a code, more like guidelines? Pirates of the Carribean
p.180 What kind of car does El Grande drive? A black Mercedes-Benz
p.182 What does Michael do to get El Grande’s attention when he was walking into the
stadium? Started singing a song, Misifuz
p185 What team are the Clippers playing in the semi-finals, knowing that the winner is
headed to Yankee Stadium? The Westchester South Giants
p.191 Who hit a home run in the top of the first inning of the play off game? Justin
p.196 When Justin was called ‘out’ in the semi-final game, what was he about to do that
would have meant an automatic ejection? Throw down his batting helmet
p.197 Who showed up at the semi-final playoff game on crutches? El Grande
p.198 Who showed up at the semi-final playoff game with El Grande? Ellie, Carlos, Mr.
Gibbs and another man
p.199 What did Ellie give to Michael when she showed up at the semi-final playoff
game with El Grande? Michael’s birth certificate
p.199 Who is Steve Kain? Chief Executive Officer of the Little League baseball in
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
p.200 What was Justin’s dads’ complaint after the birth certificate was produced? That
they couldn’t just put Michael in the game in the middle of it
p.201 Mr. Minaya asked the team for someone to volunteer to come out of the game for
Michael to go in. Everyone raised their hand except who? Manny
p.203 What inning did Michael go in to pitch during the semifinal playoff game? 4th
p.203 Who did Michael see nodding his approval of his pitches during the semi final
play off game? El Grande
p.206 What did Michael do now to make Justin wait another minute longer that just
drives Michael crazy when big leaguers did it or that little leaguers do to imitate
the big leaguers? Michael picked up dirt to rub on his hands and took his time
getting into his stance
p.209 There’s a phrase Little League coaches say about a persons order in the batting
sequence that means ‘this guy can’t hit’. What number is it? #9
p.210 Who was the final batter for the Giants with Michael pitching? Justin
p.213 How much did it cost to go watch the Clippers play Fordham Road in the District
22 finals? Nothing, it’s free
p.213 When had Mr. Gibbs found out about Papi? The day after Carlos had been picked
up for scalping tickets
p.213 Who told Mr. Gibbs the whole story about Papi? Mrs. Cora
p.213 What was the condition for Mr. Gibbs to take temporary custody of Michael and
Carlos? That Carlos is to be an intern at ACS and work for Mr. Gibbs
p.214 Where does Michael think Ellie looks as comfortable at as in her own home?
Going down the stairs at Yankee Stadium
p.215 Which color line takes you to the Yankees dressing room? Blue
p.216 Whose locker does Michael use in the Yankee Stadium dressing room? El Grande
p.217 Who walked down the runway and up the dugout steps first? Michael
p.219 Who threw the first pitch for the finals? The owner of the Yankees
p.220 El Grande talked about the ghosts in Yankee Stadium. Who does Michael imagine
as one of them now, smiling tonight? Papi