Firegirl Chapter 1

Click to play music.

Miss Boeskool
Chapter 1 Summary

In Chapter 1, we are introduced to Tom (the narrator) and his

best friend Jeff. In the scene, Tom and Jeff are just getting to
Jeff’s house after a day of school. Jeff says, “You ever smell
blood?” and Tom explains to the reader that Jeff says a lot of
random things like that that catch Tom off guard. Jeff tells
Tom that his uncle will be bringing his Cobra, Tom’s favorite
kind of car, over next weekend. Jeff offers to drive over to
pick Tom up in it.
Compare Tom Jeff

and
Contrast Tom is thrown off by the
Both Tom
and Jeff Jeff’s train of thought
things that Jeff says. seem to like Seems to be all over the
He seems to be very cars. place. He says random
focused on what lies They are things that confuse Tom.
before him. But he both great He also jokes around a
does understand Jeff’s friends and lot, as we see when he
jokes, which strengthens seem to begins drinking grape
their relationship. know each juice while pretending it’s
other well. blood.
Pressure on Characters

In this chapter, both Tom and Jeff experience the pressure of

the day of the cobra quickly approaching. Tom is very excited
about it and highly anticipating the day. He can’t think about
anything else, while Jeff tries to move onto another topic and
brushes off Tom’s excitement.
Quote

“I guess I would say that the Friday before [Jessica] came was
probably the last normal day for a while. As normal as things
ever were with me and Jeff.” (page 1)

This quote allows me to infer that Jessica’s arrival to the

school will greatly change Tom’s life. This quote provides a
little suspense that makes me wonder about what will happen
later in the story and why Jessica will make such a difference.
The second sentence of the quote also makes me think that
Tom and Jeff’s lives are very interesting in some way.
Meaning of Words

yanked (page 3)

I did not know what this word meant before I read this
chapter, but based on how it is used in the context of Jeff
moving toward the refrigerator and taking a tumbler of juice
out, I believe it means that he pulled open the door. Because
of Jeff’s energy in this scene while he’s joking around about
blood, the word may also mean that he pulled open the door
rather dramatically.
Figurative Language

In this chapter, figurative language is used to describe Tom’s

favorite car, a Cobra. Tom say’s “The wheel wells over each
tire flare out like big, angry lips.” He makes gives many other
similes and metaphors in this paragraph, including comparing
the car to a snake.
Theme

This chapter shows that sometimes life presents exciting

opportunities, brought about by friendships.
Music

I chose the music you are hearing right now because I felt that
it fit the overall energetic tone of the chapter. The chapter
begins rather mysterious like the music, building up suspense
about Jessica, but once Tom gets into describing the narrative
with Jeff, both boys seem to be in a good mood, reflected by
the upbeat music and happy tone. The music also moves fast,
like Jeff’s train of thought and Jeff and Tom’s conversation -
moving from topic to topic quickly.
Book Cover

I think the cover of this book fits the story well

because ________________________________________________

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If I were to make one change, I would
________________________________________________.