Case 1: Hoco Loco

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Contact: MavinFoxAuthor@gmail.com
Em & Jules
Case 1:
Hoco Loco

© 2020 Mavin Fox
ELA Common Core State Standards: 7th Grade
Reading Literature (RL)
Key Ideas & Details
RL.1 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text
says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
RL.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development
over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.
RL.3 Analyze how particular elements of a story interact.
Craft & Structure
RL.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, to
include figurative and connotative meanings.
RL.6 Analyze how an author develops and contrasts the points of view of different
characters or narrators in a text.

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Writing Standards (W)
Text Types and Purposes
W.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
W.2 Write informative/ explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas,
concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of
relevant content.
Production and Distribution of Writing
W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization,
and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
W.9 Draw evidence from literary texts to support analysis, reflection, and
research.

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Speaking and Listening Standards
Comprehension and Collaboration
SL.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in
groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and
expressing their own clearly.
SL.2 Analyze the main ideas and supporting details presented in diverse media
and formats.
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
SL.4 Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent
manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate
eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.

Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
What happened to some of the art for the Art show when
Em & Jules showed up at school?

Chapter 1
Re-read this section in the text about Grace. What word best
describes Grace from this interaction?
“Who will you ask, Em?” Em knew. “Um, Kyle Evans,” she said, and her face went red. Em
had liked Kyle for ages. He was tall, handsome, smart, and funny. Em turned red just
thinking about him. She had a crush on him since third grade. This was her chance. It
scared her. She wasn’t sure if he liked her back. What if he said no? Grace Walters
laughed. “You’ll ask Kyle Evans?” she said. Em went red. Maybe Grace was right and
asking Kyle to the dance was a bad idea. He would just say no. “Yes, she will!” said Jules.
Em wasn’t sure now. What if it went wrong? “Says you,” said Grace to Jules. “You’re not
even asking anyone.” Jules was angry. “Just because our art’s better and no one asked
you,” said Jules. Grace had no answer and turned around. Jules smiled, but Em was
upset now. Maybe it was a bad idea to ask Kyle to the dance, and maybe people would
hate her art.

Chapter 1
Think about Em as a character. Re-read this section from
the text (pages 9-10):
What does this dialogue tell us about Em? How does she
feel about her artwork?
“The art show will be on at the dance,” said Jules. “Cool,” said Em. “I hope people like it. What
if my painting is bad?” “Silly!” said Jules. “Mr. Cunningham said it was good!” “Yes,” said Em,
“but what if someone hates it?” Jules had her pots on show in her house. There was a new one
every time Em went there. Jules knew that her art was good because everyone told her so.
Em wasn’t sure about her own artwork. Jules said, “Art is like food. Some people like some
foods and other people don’t.” “What if my art is like broccoli? Nobody likes broccoli,” said Em.
“Don’t worry,” said Jules, “Your painting isn’t broccoli!”

Chapter 2
What does Jules want to be when she grows up?

Chapter 2
When solving mysteries, what is the ‘scene of the
crime?’

Chapter 2
Draw a line from the word to its correct
definition/ meaning.
Witness A piece of evidence used to help solve a mystery
Clue A path of clues to follow
Lead A person who sees an event take place, typically a
crime.

Chapter 2
Why did Jules ask Oliver where he was on
Sunday night?

Chapter 3
Draw a line from the word on the left to the correct
definition on the right.
Investigation a trick
Grudge when you can’t move forward
Prank inquire, research, study something
Culprit feeling angry towards someone for
a long time
Dead-End person who is charged with, or
guilty of a crime

Chapter 3
Why do Em & Jules think Grace might be a suspect?

Chapter 3
Choose the correct answer. Which of the
following are some clues Jules told Em to look
for at Grace Walters’ house?

Chapter 3
Draw a line from the word on the left to the correct
definition on the right.
Evidence a situation that calls for an investigation
Alibi explanation by a suspect that he/she
was somewhere else when the crime was
committed.
Confession admitting guilt; telling the truth you did
something
Case being responsible for doing something wrong
Red-handed material that helps find the truth about something
Guilty caught doing something wrong

Chapter 3
Why did Jules decide that Grace was not
responsible for trashing the art show? (What
was Grace’s alibi?) Type your response using this
sentence starter:
Grace’s alibi was…..

Chapter 4
Read this quote from Jules: “We’ll work out who trashed
everything. We’re going to get justice!” What does it
mean to “get justice?”

Chapter 4
Who did Em & Jules eliminate (remove) as suspects?

Chapter 4
In Chapter 4, What is the new lead for Em & Jules in
solving the case? Type your answer. Go to page 39 in
the text if you need a little help.

Chapter 4
Summarize Em’s dream from Chapter 4. Who (or what)
was she dreaming about?

Chapter 4
Why is Em so pre-occupied (distracted, thinking about
something else)?

Chapter 4
Who is Natalie Powell?

Chapter 4
What is a Student Council? (Hint: Look at the picture
below and let’s discuss. What is in the boxes? What
could the contents be for?)

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 4
What is Em & Jules’ new big lead at the end of
Chapter 4? Start your response with:
Em & Jules’ new lead is…..

Compare and Contrast: Em (red circle) and Jules
(yellow circle) at the beginning of Chapter 5

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 5
We know that Em has a crush on Kyle. But do you
think Kyle likes Em, too? What evidence (proof) from
the text supports your answer?

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 5
Is this statement true or false?
Kyle wants to be a forensic scientist when he
grows up.

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 5
1) What bombshell does Jules
drop on Em during lunch?
Answer the question with this
sentence starter: Jules tells
Em that …….
2) What does Em have to do to
help solve the mystery?
Respond with this sentence
starter: Em has to…..

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 5
Re-read this quote from Jules: “We know that
whoever trashed the art show wanted to stop
someone from going to the dance. But the
question is, why would they want to do that?” Em
shrugged. “The answer is what we were thinking!
This is a crime of jealousy!”
Which statement best describes Jules’ reason for
the crime?

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 6
Why are Em and Kyle going to Em’s house after
school?

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 6
Why doesn’t Em want to ask Kyle if he trashed the art
show?
Start your response with: Em doesn’t want to ask
Kyle if he trashed the art show because…..

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 6
The next morning, Em and Jules are on the bus
going to school. When Jules asks Em if she has
evidence to catch the culprit, what does Em
reply?

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 6
How does Jules know that Em is lying? Start your
response with: Jules knows that Em is lying
because…..

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 6
At the end of the chapter,
Em is in a predicament (a
predicament is a difficult situation to be in).
Explain it. What makes it
difficult? Type your
response.

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 6
Drag the magnifying
glass to the correct
description of Jules’
feelings at the end of
Chapter 6.
Jules is happy for Em because she
is working together with Kyle on the
History project.
Jules is sad because Kyle likes
Carrie Oscar and not her best
friend, Em.
Jules is disappointed and angry
with Em because she did not do
her part to help catch the culprit.

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 7
Explain why Kyle left Em’s house after working on
the project without saying, ‘Good-bye.’ What
happened? Start your response with: Kyle left Em’s
house because…..

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 7
Re-read the dialogue between Em and Jules
starting on page 70 and ending on page 72.
Describe, in your own words, what happened. Why
is Em upset? Why is Jules upset?

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 7
After leaving Jules, Em decides to hang out with
Victoria. While talking to Victoria, what very
important information does Em learn about
Victoria’s twin brothers?

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 8
● To see someone at the
scene of a crime.
● To suspect a person of
committing a crime.
● To prove that someone
committed a crime.
● To blame someone for
doing something.
Re-read this part from Chapter 8:
“So, about yesterday,” he said. As
soon as he said it, she started to cry
and her face turned pink. “I’m very
sorry about that,” she said. “I didn’t
mean to accuse you of something you
didn’t do. Jules and I were just caught
up in the mystery.”
Using the clues in the sentence, what
do you think the word ‘accuse’ means?
Drag the person icon to the correct
definition.

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 8
An inference is a reading strategy that helps
readers understand what is happening in
books. To make an inference, readers have
to:
1) think about what they
know
2) read the clues in a text
3) come up with information
not stated in the text.
Based on what you read in Chapter 8, how did
Kyle get tickets to the Hoco (Homecoming) Dance
for all of the 6th graders who had art in the art
show?

© 2020 Mavin Fox
Chapter 8
Directions: Fill in
the story map by
clicking the
cursor in the text
boxes.
The setting
is:
Em,
Em’s wish is to
The problem in this story is:
The solution is:

Case 1: Hoco Loco

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