The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

Chapters 1-7

Reading Check

1. The social worker’s office (Chapter 2)

2. Benny Kilmartin (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. Mason is comfortable in the SWOOF because he is always welcome and accepted there. This comfort stands in contrast to his other experiences in school. Students bully him because of his intelligence, and he feels insecure about sweating all the time. (Various chapters)

2. Mason is not often included or received well by his peers. He likely feels the need to memorize compliments because they are rare in his school world. (Chapter 3)

Chapters 8-15

Reading Check

1. A notebook and an orange pencil (Chapter 11)

Short Answer

1. Mason’s home life is complicated. In a run-down house that makes him feel insecure, he lives with his grandmother, Uncle Drum, and a girl named Shayleen. Uncle Drum brought Shayleen home one day because she did not have any money; she tends to be argumentative and buys items with Uncle Drum’s credit card. (Various chapters)

2. Mason sees emotions in color. For example, he describes his friendship with Calvin as pink because to Mason it represents happiness. (Chapter 13)

Chapters 16-23

Reading Check

1. Mason and Benny (Chapter 18)

2. Mason’s lopper’s (Chapter 21)

Short Answer

1. Mason believes that bad luck follows him around. He shares this concern with Calvin after showing him a pair of acrostic poems he wrote. This worry likely stems from his mother’s accidental death and the death of his friend Benny. Calvin tells Mason he does not believe in curses. (Chapter 18)

2. Mason is surprised when Calvin calls him his friend and chooses to walk with him, even though the bullies are not chasing them. Mason’s response indicates he has low self-worth and does not consider himself a desirable companion. (Chapter 19)

Chapters 24-31

Reading Check

1. Apples (Chapter 24)

2. The root cellar (Chapter 30)

Short Answer

1. Mason and Calvin have scavenged a tube to create a skylight for the root cellars. Matt and the other bullies attempt to take it from them, but Calvin wants it more. He clings to the tube while the bullies pull on his clothing until Mrs. Drinker discovers the fight and intervenes. Though the bullies are a better team, Calvin’s team has the greater desire and therefore prevails against the bullies by keeping the tube. (Chapter 28)

2. Mason’s work on the root cellar illustrates his creativity, ingenuity, and practical skill in construction. Mason and Calvin research the Lascaux caves and begin to visualize their root cellar. They paint the cellar walls and create a skylight by installing a Sonotube found in the dumpster. Mason demonstrates his knowledge of construction, which he learned from Andy’s dad, when he installs the tube. (Various chapters)

Chapters 32-39

Reading Check

1. A pink cloud (Chapter 37)

2. Charcoal (Chapter 38)

Short Answer

1. Calvin claims the Universe gave them the salad bowl Mason found in Shayleen’s room. Mason is skeptical because he does not know what to say when the Universe takes things away, alluding to the death of his mother and his friend Benny. (Chapter 36)

2. Mason first describes the sad-to-see-you look when he encounters Calvin’s housekeeper. Mason explains that it is a pitying, cold look without any sympathy. He recalls that he experienced the same look after Benny died when he was in the diner with Uncle Drum; while there, they ran into Benny’s parents, who told Mason it was too painful to speak to him. Mason observes the customers giving him the same look. Feeling unwelcome, Uncle Drum and Mason leave. They do not return to the diner. (Various chapters)

Chapters 40-47

Reading Check

1. Wednesday mode (Chapter 45)

2. Corey (Chapter 46)

Short Answer

1. The bullies knock the charcoal out of Mason’s and Calvin’s hands, and then Matt begins hitting and shaking Moonie because the dog left his house. Calvin later acknowledges that Matt’s behavior is often cruel, but in this instance, it is disturbing because Calvin has a voice to defend himself with, and Moonie does not. (Chapter 40)

2. Calvin reads the newspaper and knows all that has transpired between Mason and Benny, so he does not pressure Mason to speak about what happened. Calvin supports Mason by suggesting he take the picture of Benny from Ms. Blinny’s desk. He explains later that the townspeople associate the orchard with Benny, which surprises Mason. Lt. Baird’s forceful discussion of Benny makes Mason uncomfortable as he is always reliving the worst experience he had with Benny.

3. Shayleen wants Uncle Drum to purchase a jacket for her and is distressed when Grandma tells her he will not buy it. Mason observes that Shayleen spends money, but it does not make her happier. Earlier in the novel, Mason enters Shayleen’s room and notices unopened boxes and unused items. His discovery confirms his and his grandmother’s assertion that Shayleen is wasting Uncle Drum’s money. (Various chapters)

Chapters 48-55

Reading Check

1. In the root cellar shaft (Chapter 50)

2. The aurochs (Chapter 54)

Short Answer

1. Lt. Baird has been suspicious of Benny’s death; he believes Mason knew the rung on the ladder was broken and thinks he hid the saw used to cut it. Calvin’s disappearance seems to confirm Lt. Baird’s suspicions that Mason is dangerous. He asks Mason leading questions about the pond, suspecting Mason may have hurt Calvin there. (Various chapters)

2. Ms. Blinny gives Mason a rock that says “loyal.” This word represents him because of the high value he places on friends and family. Mason is loyal to Benny, even after Benny’s fathers and the community reject Mason; he is loyal to his family members, even though he is aware of their flaws; he is loyal to Moonie, even when he knows Matt will bully him because of it; and, above all, he is loyal to Calvin and continues to search for him, even when he is accused of being responsible for his disappearance. Mason’s loyalty to others outweighs other peoples’ perceptions of him. (Various chapters)

Chapters 56-64

Reading Check

1. Synesthesia (Chapter 59)

2. Moonie (Chapters 59-64)

Short Answer

1. Lt. Baird believes Mason sawed through the top rung of the ladder, causing Benny to fall, and buried the saw to hide the evidence. His conclusions are supported by Mason’s unwillingness to discuss Benny and what happened to him. Calvin’s accident and the missing saw also appear to support Lt. Baird’s claims. (Various chapters)

2. The Chumsky family members have no sad-to-see-you faces and embrace Mason. Mason describes their reaction as being what he needs, because the Chumskys do not believe he had anything to do with the accident. Their acceptance of Calvin is a much-needed balm for the wrongs that have been committed against him in the community. (Chapter 61)

Chapters 65-74

Reading Check

1. Annalissetta Yang (Chapter 74)

Short Answer

1. Mason discovers his handsaw in the Drinkers’ garage. Matt screams at Mason after the discovery, and Mrs. Drinker cries. The police are called, and Corey admits the boys told him they had hurt Benny. Mason is confused at first, then realizes Matt must have hurt Benny on purpose. This new discovery exonerates Mason and incriminates Matt. (Various chapters)

2. Lt. Baird tells Uncle Drum the families involved in Benny’s investigation are not cooperating with the police. His assertion that good families hold their children responsible indicates that Lt. Baird believes Matt and some of the other boys do not have good families, while Mason does because his family allowed him to assist in the police investigation. (Chapter 68)

3. Grandma holds a family meeting, claiming that their household has begun to fall apart. She explains that they need to make some changes, and now that Mason has been exonerated, they can. She plans to watch a girl after school and begin baking, insists that Drum get a steady job, asks Mason to pick apples, and tells Shayleen to start selling pies. Grandma also commissions individuals to start fixing the house. (Various chapters)