Across
- 4. Danny is out of football for six weeks after having this happen to his foot in a football practice.
- 6. This cool room with games, a bookshelf, and a fish tank at first made Danny feel nervous but then became a place where he could share his feelings in a safe, quiet, supportive space.
- 8. I have brown eyes and freckles, I'm best friends with the most important character and I keep him on track with school. Sometimes people can be mean and call me miss fancy pants.
- 9. In order for Danny to avoid a suspension for starting a fight with Markle and because of everything going on in his life recently the school principal gives him a chance if he agrees to attend appointments with this person.
- 13. The name of the school where Ms. Rait teaches and Danny plays football.
- 16. Danny does this for the first time when talking to Mr. Crenshaw in his office and realizes he feels responsible for his father’s heart attack as his dad was helping to train him for his football.
- 17. In Mrs. Rait’s English class Danny was found looking at Janey’s pre-test and copying answers and was accused of this.
- 20. This term describes someone who cannot read. Danny struggles to read and write at his expected age level. Ms. Rait picks up on this and wants to help him knowing he is capable but doesn’t want him to take the easy way out just so he can play football. She wants him to truly learn and not just switch out of her class. But he really wants to play in the championship game which means he has to pass the class.
- 21. Danny starts to feel like maybe he doesn’t actually need the support of Ms. Rait and Mr. Crenshaw when he is getting lots of praise for doing well in football. He thinks he can take the easy way out, but after he injures himself he realizes he actually wants and needs this from them.
- 22. I’m in the seventh grade and am 12 years old. I’m the main character in the book and I’m dealing with seeing my dad pass away from a heart attack. I’m trying to be as good as he wanted me to be so I can make the NFL like he did. I haven’t learned to read and because I am a football star teachers have passed me anyway. I have a lot of anger and sometimes come across as rude but really I'm just feeling sad about my father.
- 23. A rival grade 8 football player and captain of Danny’s team who is always pushing Danny around and calling him names, constantly competing with each other.
- 24. This character was a lineman on Danny’s team and starts a fire in Ms. Rait’s chicken coop. He is known to like fire.
- 25. This character had high expectations, played football for the Pittsburgh Steelers and won a Super Bowl.
Down
- 1. A bald headed man who shows his anger in his face by going from red to purple, he is the principal of Jericho high and does not seem to get along well with Ms. Rait.
- 2. After all his hard work and dedication and with the help of Ms. Rait Danny finally was able to achieve this in his English class.
- 3. CREEK It’s warm and we live in this small town in the big state of Texas. My dad sold farm machinery here and we listen to country music on the radio. Football is important to the people here.
- 4. When Danny’s 8th grade rival pushed him around and said mean things about his dad on the football field right after his father’s death it resulted in this.
- 5. Something that both Ms. Rait and Danny had to build between them to get him to the championship game and succeeding in school.
- 7. The football team was losing in the semi-final when they pulled both Markle and Port and put in Danny. They managed to make some plays to give them this.
- 10. This cat and her kittens are important to Danny’s teacher and tutor Ms. Rait and she stays in the chicken coop outside her home.
- 11. I try to look out for Danny and after he loses his dad and misses a few practices I come to his house and encourage him to return to the team when he is ready. I want him to succeed and I even help him out when he is caught cheating on an English test.
- 12. The game that Counselor Crenshaw and Danny play together when they start to share and talk and Danny finally starts to open up about his feelings.
- 14. A yummy treat with icing, the one you eat might be small but I’m definitely not little. I got this nickname because I am big and strong but wasn’t always tough and had to learn to defend myself.
- 15. This character ends up being a calming person for Danny. He is quiet and Danny considers him someone he can talk to about how he struggles to read and also how he feels about losing his dad to a heart attack and seeing it happen. He also helps Danny consider who he wants to be as a person, and helps him see he doesn’t need to live in his father’s shadow.
- 18. Danny runs all the way to Ms Rait’s house the night of the bonfire because he is worried his teammate may have started this at her chicken coop.
- 19. I’m a tough teacher who won't pass people just because they have famous parents. I might seem strict but I really just want the kids to learn and improve. I want Danny to be able to pass English without cheating and help tutor him in English. I meet with Danny after practice to help him learn to read.