Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. Gibb Street; Cleveland, Ohio (Chapter 1)

2. Plants six beans (Chapter 1)

3. Since 1919 (Chapter 2)

4. Typist for the parole board (Chapter 2)

5. His wife died in a car crash, and his son died in a shooting. (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. The bean plants are Kim’s way of connecting to her deceased father and showing him that she is his daughter. (Chapter 1)

2. As a longtime resident and former typist for the parole board, Ana has seen the very worst kinds of things happen on Gibb Street. (Chapter 2)

3. Wendell is so impressed by Kim’s hopeful act of planting beans that he begins to have faith in himself and his ability to create change in the world. This reminds him of a biblical story in which the children show the adults how to have faith. (Chapter 3)

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. Gonzalo’s great uncle (Chapter 4)

2. Her grandmother (Chapter 5)

3. Paradise (Chapter 6)

4. The Garden of Eden and the Tower of Babel (

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