Students at Paintbrush Falls Middle School often call each other mean names as a form of bullying, but nicknames can also be used as a term of endearment, such as Bobby and his dad’s nicknames for each other, Skip and Hammer. What kinds of nicknames are used throughout the novel? What do they tell you about each character and their relationship to one another?

At the beginning of the novel, Bobby tries not to draw attention to himself. How would you describe Bobby’s character at the end of the novel? How does he change over the course of the story?

What does Bobby learn about Mr. Kellerman the longer they work together? How does his impression of Mr. Kellerman change over the course of the novel?