Two Degrees

79 pages • 2 hours read

Two Degrees

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2022

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Download PDF

Introduction

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

PART 1, CHAPTERS 1-17

Get access to this full Teaching Guide and much more!

8,800+ In-Depth Study Guides
4,700+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
Downloadable PDFs

Reading Check

1. What is the name of the fire threatening Akira and her father?

2. What jobs do Owen and his family have?

3. Where are George and Owen going for the weekend?

4. How severe is Hurricane Reuben?

The SuperSummary difference

8x more resources than SparkNotes and CliffsNotes combined
Study Guides you won’t find anywhere else
175+ fresh titles added every month

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How do Akira and her dad differ in their thoughts about climate change and how does this difference impact their relationship?

2. When George and Owen stop, what danger do they encounter and how do they react?

3. What causes Natalie to climb through the window?

PART 2, CHAPTERS 18-40

Reading Check

1. When Akira and Sue find a house, whom do they find in the pool?

2. When Natalie and the family helping her need to flee that house, where do they go?

3. What connection to her past does Isabel see in the hurricane?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How do Sue and Akira end up alone in the wildfire?

2. What do Sue and Akira realize they have in common?

3. How do Owen and George escape the attacking polar bear mother?

4. When Natalie finds the floating car in the flood, why does she decide she needs to get off it?

Paired Resource

“The ‘Change’ in Climate Change”

Jacob Shores-Argüello’s poem weaves details to illustrate some feelings and facts about the warming planet.
The poem connects to the themes of Human Connection and the Natural World and Survival and Resilience in Disaster.
How do the natural disasters affect families in the poem and the novel?

PART 3, CHAPTERS 41-55

Reading Check

1. How does Sue coax Dodger out of the pool?

2. What does Owen fall into?

3. What animals does Natalie see in the flood?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Sue leave with Vicki and why does Akira not get in the car?

2. What does George share about the Inuit’s beliefs about polar bears?

3. Why has George been complaining about Churchill?

Paired Resource

“Natural Disasters and Severe Weather”

This CDC resource offers guidance for before, during, and after various natural disasters.
The information on the site connects to the theme of Survival and Resilience in Disaster.
What advice from this website do the characters follow?

PART 4, CHAPTERS 56-72

Reading Check

1. When Akira and Dodger see a mountain lion, what does it do?

2. What do the northern lights reveal to George and Owen?

3. How does Natalie get across the flood to the higher apartment?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How are Owen’s ideas about climate change shifting?

2. How does Patience help Natalie?

Paired Resource

“Climate Change Is Fueling More Conflict Between Humans and Wildlife”

NPR’s article explains ways that climate change drives animals and humans into each other’s paths, which can be dangerous; the resource also has some suggestions people can follow.
What is Owen learning about Human Connection and the Natural World?

PART 5, CHAPTERS 73-77

Reading Check

1. Where do George and Owen find safety from Nanuq and a new danger?

2. Where does Patience work?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the significance of the sequoias burning?

2. How do Owen and George escape from the cabin?

PART 6, CHAPTERS 78-103

Reading Check

1. Who sees Akira and her family and helps rescue them?

2. What happened to Tía Beatriz?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Dodger save Akira and her family?

2. Why do George and Owen save Nanuq?

3. How is Natalie stepping into her role as leader?

Paired Resource

“How Young People Feel About Climate Change and Their Future”

PBS’s article looks at statistics from a poll and includes quotes from individuals revealing young people’s attitudes toward climate change.
Shared themes include Human Connection and the Natural World, Coming of Age in a Changing World, and Survival and Resilience in Disaster.
What feelings are Akira, George, Owen, and Natalie revealing about climate change?

“A Potent Climate Solution: The Youth Vote”

The MacArthur Foundation explores the power of young people in effecting change; the resource includes an article and videos highlighting youth voices.
Shared themes include Human Connection and the Natural World, Coming of Age in a Changing World, and Survival and Resilience in Disaster.
Where and how do the characters demonstrate their power?

PART 7, CHAPTERS 104-108

Reading Check

1. Where are Natalie and Akira speaking?

2. What does Owen buy George?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What advice does Natalie offer the crowd in her closing speech?

2. How is Sue connected to George and Owen as well as Akira? As a result of their common acquaintances, what do the characters realize?

Recommended Next Reads

Manatee's Best Friend by Sylvia Lu

Becca loves the manatee she visits right behind her home. When boaters threaten the manatee and her new baby, Becca decides to help, even if it means jeopardizing relationships in the process.
Shared themes include Human Connection and the Natural World and Coming of Age in a Changing World.
Shared topics include the human-animal bond, protecting nature, and fighting for what is right.

The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt

Twelve-year-old Chad tries to protect a swamp from commercial development while two raccoons try to protect the area from feral hogs.
Shared themes include Human Connection and the Natural World, Coming of Age in a Changing World, and Survival and Resilience in Disaster.
Shared topics include environmental conservation and protecting habitats.

Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Twelve-year-old Lanesha fights to survive and keep those she loves safe in the devastating aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina.
Shared themes include Human Connection and the Natural World, Coming of Age in a Changing World, and Survival and Resilience in Disaster.
Shared topics include hurricanes, keeping others safe in disasters, and learning to trust instincts.
Ninth Ward on SuperSummary

Reading Questions Answer Key

PART 1, CHAPTERS 1-17

Reading Check

Get access to this full Teaching Guide and much more!

8,800+ In-Depth Study Guides
4,700+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
Downloadable PDFs

1. The Morris Fire (Chapter 4)

2. Leading tours to see polar bears (Chapter 8)

3. To George’s family cabin (Chapters 8-9)

4. Category 5 (Chapter 13)

Short Answer

The SuperSummary difference

8x more resources than SparkNotes and CliffsNotes combined
Study Guides you won’t find anywhere else
175+ fresh titles added every month

1. Akira believes that climate change is real. Her father does not. This leads to disagreements when the topic comes up. Furthermore, her father doesn’t mind (and in fact, seems to welcome) debate on the subject, but Akira avoids arguing with him despite his baiting comments in the giant sequoia grove. (Chapters 1-3)

2. A mother polar bear attacks George first. Owen makes noise and runs to draw her away from his friend, and she attacks him. (Chapters 10-11)

3. Her house is flooding; it is the only way out, and her mother tells her to go on ahead. She does not want to leave her mother, but she tries to get out to help see if she can open the door from the outside. (Chapter 17)

PART 2, CHAPTERS 18-40

Reading Check

1. Dodger (Chapter 26)

2. Into a passing sailboat (Chapter 39)

3. Her fleeing on water from Cuba (Chapter 40)

Short Answer

1. As the four rush to escape the fire, a tree falls and separates them from their fathers, who tell them to get to safety. (Chapters 19-20)

2. They both like solitary activities to recharge; Akira enjoys riding Dodger and Sue likes swimming. (Chapter 24)

3. George shoots into the air to scare the bear. Then, they get on the snowmobile and drive as far as they can. (Chapter 27)

4. She sees she is going toward the canal, where many alligators live in the deep, treacherous water. (Chapter 35)

PART 3, CHAPTERS 41-55

Reading Check

1. With an apple (Chapter 42)

2. Pan empty polar bear den (Chapter 48)

3. Alligator, python, manatee (Chapters 54-55)

Short Answer

1. Sue has dislocated her shoulder and needs medical help. Akira does not want to leave Dodger again, so she stays with him despite the danger. (Chapters 40-45)

2. The Inuit believe polar bears, which they call Nanuq, can shape-shift and fly, and when they go inside an igloo, they become human. (Chapter 46)

3. George is trying to convince himself he does not like Churchill to help himself cope with the fact that he probably must leave because his dad lost his job. (Chapters 50-51)

PART 4, CHAPTERS 56-72

Reading Check

1. Runs away (Chapter 57)

2. They are near town. (Chapter 67)

3. By running across floating train cars in the eye of the hurricane (Chapters 69-70)

Short Answer

1. Owen is learning climate change is drastically affecting nature and that its effects could worsen in time. He reflects on his life and realizes how much climate change has affected it already. He also demonstrates concern for the polar bears as conditions in their environment worsen. (Chapter 62)

2. Patience welcomes Natalie into her home; gets her water, food, and dry clothes; and provides a safe place to sleep. (Chapters 68-72)

PART 5, CHAPTERS 73-77

Reading Check

1. Inside a bear trap cage (Chapter 76)

2. A food bank (Chapter 77)

Short Answer

1. The sequoias were built to not just survive but thrive in fires. Their destruction symbolizes the destructive nature of climate change, reaching even seemingly invincible areas of nature. (Chapter 73)

2. Another polar bear arrives, and he and Nanuq, who has been stalking the boys, fight. While they are distracted, George and Owen run away. (Chapter 74)

PART 6, CHAPTERS 78-103

Reading Check

1. A helicopter fighting the fire (Chapter 85)

2. Tía Beatriz survived and made it to the school but died later. (Chapters 98-99)

Short Answer

1. Dodger senses an acute danger in the direction they are running, a tree about to explode. Once Akira gives him free reign, he runs another way and leads them out of the fire to the lake. (Chapters 80-85)

2. Over the course of the night, George and Owen begin to respect Nanuq and his plight to survive. They want to be safe from him but do not want him to die. (Chapters 92-93)

3. Natalie organizes help for people at the foodbank and encouraging others to pool and share their resources in the aftermath of the hurricane. She leads the charge to make this happen; in so doing, she helps her community. (Chapters 100-103)

PART 7, CHAPTERS 104-108

Reading Check

1. The Kids Against Climate Change Rally (Chapters 104-105)

2. A new snowmobile (Chapter 106)

Short Answer

1. Natalie urges everyone to avoid being overwhelmed by climate change and to instead use their talents to do what they can to combat it and help save Earth. (Chapter 107)

2. Sue meets Akira during the Morris Fire; Sue also used to live in the town with Owen and George. The characters realize they are all connected within two people of each other despite the fact they live in very different places. This “two degrees of separation” plays on the title of the novel; two degrees is the amount of warming that may lead to the planet’s environmental collapse. (Chapter 108)