Healer of the Water Monster

Prolgue-Chapter 6

Reading Check

1. Corn (Chapter 1)

2. A turquoise necklace (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. Nathan does not want to go to Las Vegas with his father and his father’s girlfriend, Leandra. Nathan wanted to have some quality time with his father, and he loathes Leandra because he blames her for his parents’ separation. (Chapter 1 and various chapters)

2. Uncle Jet has a pattern of losing jobs and turning up at her door unexpectedly. Most recently, he lost his job in Albuquerque and arrived at her mobile home unannounced. (Chapter 5)

3. Nathan promises to heal the water monster if the water monster helps him find his way back to his grandmother’s home. (Chapter 6)

Chapters 7-13

Reading Check

1. “Enemy Way” (Chapter 7)

2. A bow guard—a band worn around the wrist when using a bow and arrow to protect against the snap of the bow string after shooting (Chapter 12)

3. Radiation poisoning (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. The sand painting reveals Nathan’s inner being to Darkness. The Holy Being sees Nathan’s hope, intelligence, kindness, and courage. As a result, Darkness decides that Nathan is worthy to accompany the water monster. (Chapter 8)

2. It is an Ash Being that formed when the spirit of a recently deceased human latched onto the person who killed that human. (Chapter 12)

3. The Holy Beings ask Nathan to journey to the Third World and gather medicine for Pond. In exchange, they promise to help the medicine man heal Uncle Jet. (Chapter 13)

Chapters 14-20

Reading Check

1. Songs (Chapter 15)

2. Darkness (Chapter 19)

Short Answer

1. Nathan is terrified of Mother Water Monster. Pond changes Nathan’s mind by saying that they are friends and promising that he wouldn’t send his friend into danger. (Chapter 15)

2. Nali and Uncle Jet fight because he snuck out at night and went drinking. To make matters worse, he brought Nathan to the party. The fight ends with Uncle Jet packing his things and leaving. (Chapter 20)

3. Nali becomes upset and takes Nathan’s bow guard because Uncle Jet stole it from her. She is distraught because she would not have needed to sell her mother’s cherished rug if she had been able to pawn the wrist guard instead. (Chapter 20)

Chapters 21-26

Reading Check

1. His smartphone (Chapter 22)

2. Andrea (Chapter 25)

Short Answer

1. Nathan uses the water monster songs to freeze a bottle of water. This convinces the adults that he is telling the truth about the Holy Beings and his upcoming quest to the Third World. (Chapter 24)

2. Nathan promises Nali that he will remain committed to his education and earn a doctorate degree one day. (Chapter 24)

Chapter 27-Epilogue

Reading Check

1. Four (Various chapters)

2. An egg (Chapter 32)

3. Changing Woman (Chapter 32)

Short Answer

1. Nathan dreams that his parents are together and happy. His dream-parents try to make Nathan stay with them forever, but he overcomes this obstacle by accepting his parents’ divorce. (Chapter 30)

2. Nathan promises to teach the water monster songs to Pond’s little sister so that she can bring rain back to the desert. (Chapter 32)