When I Was the Greatest

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. “Would you rather?” (Chapter 1)

2. Ali’s sister, Jazz (Chapter 1)

3. Noodles steals the yarn; Ali leaves money on the counter for it. (Chapter 2)

Short Answer

1. He is embarrassed about how his house looks. It has a reputation for being the slum house in the neighborhood. (Chapter 1)

2. Ali’s mother taught Needles to knit after he had a significant meltdown one day. (Chapter 1)

3. He was robbing a bodega (corner store), and the cashier pulled a gun. Ali’s father shot back and wounded the worker; he was arrested and imprisoned for three years. (Chapter 3)

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. Kenny/Kendall, who is also known as Black (Chapter 5)

2. Two text messages: one saying Ali arrived at the party and one saying he got home safe (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. Tasha (Momo’s sister) said they could come if they agreed to bring Needles. (Chapter 4)

2. He is trying to seem tough and get out of paying. He pretends that his haircut is crooked. (Chapter 5)

3. He squares up like he is going to fight, even though Ali can tell in his eyes that he doesn’t want to. (Chapter 6)

Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. Malloy’s grandson Little Joe (Chapter 7)

2. The fear that he was not a good big brother to Jazz (Chapter 8)

3. Jazz (Chapter 8)

4. His shoes (too small) (Chapter 9)

Short Answer

1. He learns that his father is sleeping in his car. (Chapter 7)

2. Noodles is irritated that Tasha gives him only water. (Chapter 8)

3. The basement is totally soundproofed, so they don’t hear the music. (Chapter 9)

Chapters 10-12

Reading Check

1. His father, John (Chapter 11)

2. His hand (Chapters 10-12)

3. Malloy’s (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. He is in the back room of the party and uncertain about having sex with Candice. (Chapter 10)

2. Someone steps on Noodles’s foot, so he pushes him “as a reflex.” Needles comes to see what the commotion is and has a tic, which causes him to stab the young man with his knitting needles. (Chapter 10)

3. Their father left when the family found out that Needles had Tourette syndrome. (Chapter 10)

4. Ali’s mother is very upset that Ali chose to fight. His father shows nonverbal approval of Ali’s skills. (Chapter 11)

Chapters 13-16

Reading Check

1. A gun (Chapter 14)

2. “I’m sorry” (Chapter 16)

Short Answer

1. She does all the cleaning for him. (Chapter 13)

2. The group that Ali beat up at the party are looking for him and his friends. They want revenge. (Chapter 14)

3. Doris calls in sick from work, and the whole family (Jazz, Ali, Doris, and John) spends the day together. (Chapter 16)