The Color of Water Study Guide
Chapter 1 – “Dead”
1. Why does Ruth say she’s dead to her family?
2. Why did “Rachel Shilsky” have to die?
Chapter 2 – “Bicycle”
3. What two hobbies did Ruth take-up when James
was fourteen?
4. How did James react to and deal with his
stepfather’s death?
Chapter 3 – “Kosher”
5. Why does Ruth say her father married her
mother?
6. What activities were not allowed on the
Sabbath?
7. As a result of her grandfather death, Ruth
becomes?
Chapter 4 – “Black Power”
8. How did the media effect James’ perception of
the Black Panthers?
9. What did James’ parents believe was the way
out of poverty?
10. Why is James so afraid of the Black Panthers
and/or Black Power?
11. James believes the ache inside him that gets
bigger is because?
Chapter 5 – “The Old Testament”
12. Why didn’t Ruth’s mom want to move to
Suffolk?
13. How did Tateh treat his wife and family?
14. Why was Ruth’s family uneasy in Suffolk?
15. What did Ruth’s father do to her?
Chapter 6 – “The New Testament”
16. What topic doesn’t Ruth like to hear about in a
sermon?
17. Why does James think his mother cries?
18. Why does Ruth say God is “the color of water”?
Chapter 7 – “Sam”
19. What is ironic about Tateh’s worries that his
black customers will rob him?
20. According to Ruth, what made the black folks
happy where she lived?
21. What happened to Sam?
Chapter 8 – “Brothers and Sisters”
22. Who ran away and refused to come home?
Chapter 9 – “Shul”
23. Who did Ruth/Rachel meet in Suffolk and
become “best” friends with?
24. How did other Jewish families in Suffolk treat
Ruth’s family?
25. How did Frances and her family treat Rachel?
26. In what way was Ruth starving when she was a
child?
Chapter 10 – “School”
27. What does James “create” in order to escape
reality?
28. Why did Ruth fall in love with a black man?
Chapter 11 – “Boys”
29. What does Ruth say she loves about “black
folks”?
30. How did Peter win Ruth over?
31. What did Peter risk in dating Ruth?
32. Who knows Ruth is pregnant?
Chapter 12 – “Daddy”
33. Why didn’t Hunter live at the St. Alban’s house?
34. Why isn’t James able to share his “true” feelings
towards “Daddy”?
Chapter 13 – “New York”
35. What does Ruth say she loves about NY?
36. How does Aunt Mary treat her?
37. How does Ruth’s family deal with their
feelings?
38. Explain the metaphor “If you throw water on the
floor it will find a hole”.
Chapter 14 – “Chicken Man”
39. Where does James meet “Chicken Man”?
40. What issue does “Chicken Man” help James
with?
41. What is “Chicken Man’s” occupation?
42. Why does James like the corner?
43. What is ironic about how “Chicken Man’s”
dies?
Chapter 15 – “Graduation”
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
Why did Ruth go back to Suffolk?
What does she find out about Peter?
How does she react to the news about Peter?
Why does she go to her graduation?
Why doesn’t Ruth enter the church?
Why is Ruth always on the go?
By trusting who and doing what does Ruth keep
her sanity?
Chapter 16 – “Driving”
51. Why is the driving “incident” so ironic?
Chapter 17 – “Lost in Harlem”
52.
53.
54.
55.
Why won’t they give Ruth a job in Harlem?
Why does Ruth say she went out with Rocky?
What are Rocky’s plans for Ruth?
What turned James around?
Chapter 18 – “Lost in Delaware”
56. Why does James think its best he/they move
away from NY?
57. Why don’t James’ sisters want to move?
58. Why is James family “lost” in Delaware?
59. What does Ruth feel guilty about?
60. Why has James become a butler?
Chapter 19 – “The Promise”
61. Why didn’t Mameh grant Tateh’s request(s) for
a divorce?
62. Why does Ruth decide to become a Christian?
63. Why can’t Ruth stay in Suffolk?
Chapter 20 – “Old Man Shilsky”
64. Where does Mr. Thompson “imply” that Old
Man Shilsky is?
Chapter 21 – “A Bird Who Flies”
65. Who is the “Bird Who Flies”?
Chapter 22 – “A Jew Discovered”
66. While in Suffolk, James says he senses
who/what as he looks out at the water?
67. Why didn’t James play Aubrey’s greeting to his
mother?
Chapter 23 – “Dennis”
68. Why can’t Ruth go south with Dennis?
69. How did the community respond to Dennis’
death?
Chapter 24 – “New Brown”
70. Ruth suggest James become a minister, but
ultimately says what?
Chapter 25 – “Finding Ruthie”
71. What does Ruth say in response to James asking
where they should bury her?
72. Ruth’s ultimate “life works” or
“accomplishments” are?
73. How many years does it take for Ruth to face the
“ghost” of her past?
74. Based on what James says, why didn’t Ruth tell
her children about her past (childhood)?
75. What does Ruth accomplish at the age of 65?
Who are the following characters?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Fishel Shilsky
Jack
Hudis Shilsky
Samuel Shilsky
Hunter Jordan, Sr.
C. Lawler Rogers
Ann Fox Dawson
Frances Moody
James McBride
Rachel Deborah Shilsky / Ruth McBride Jordan
Andrew Dennis McBride
Aunt Betsy/Aunt Mary
David Lee Preston
Big Richard
Chicken Man