The Big Split |
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Summary:
Zack Brown's parents have been arguing a lot recently. However, when Zack's father does not even come to his daughter Shelli's sixth birthday, it seems to be the last straw. Zack's mother confronts Mr. Brown when he returns late at night. Mr. Brown says he doesn't want to be married any more. Mrs. Brown tells the two older children but delays telling Shelli. Then Zack sees his father kissing his substitute teacher in a local store. He gets really angry with his father. They eventually talk. A couple of Zack's friends also let him know he is not alone. By the end of the book, the Brown family seems to be on its way to working with the new reality of their lives. |
Before You Read — Pre-Reading
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Chapter One—Happy Birthday
Summary:
It's Zack Brown's little sister Shelli's sixth birthday. His mother is rushing around getting ready for the party. His dad is supposed to pick up the cake but does not come home. Zack is commandeered into helping out. He is angry with his father. |
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Chapter Two—Brothers and Sisters
Summary:
Zack welcomes the birthday guests at the door. His girlfriend Heidi comes by to take him out, but he needs to stay and help. They hang out in the backyard and eat burgers. Zack is annoyed that his day is ruined. |
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Chapter Three—Ta-da!
Summary:
Zack is angry at having to do extra chores because his dad is never around any more. Zack and Heidi watch the birthday clown and find out it is their friend Leo. Heidi pitches in to help because she knows Zack is in a bad mood. Zack can't tell her that his parents' fighting upsets him. |
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Chapter Four—Over the Edge
Summary:
Zack hands out goody bags to the kids and helps his mom clean up. Heidi goes home. His dad does not show up for the party and his brother Michael is at Patrick's house. When the phone rings, Zack thinks it is his dad, but it is Patrick's dad. Michael has been taken to the hospital. |
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Chapter Five—A Bad Break
Summary:
Zack's mom does not call. His dad comes home after 8:00 p.m. Zack is angry with his father. Just as they are about to go to the hospital to see what is happening, Mrs. Brown and Michael come home. Michael has fallen off Patrick's garage roof trying to see the girls in the pool next door. He has broken his arm. |
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Chapter Six—Brown vs. Brown, Round One
Summary:
Zack helps his brother get into bed. He hears his parents arguing downstairs. His dad makes excuses that he is busy at work. His mom wants him to spend more time with the family. Zack listens to music to shut out the world. |
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Chapter Seven—Breakfast at the Brown's
Summary:
Zack's mom wakes them up and rushes to get everyone ready for school. Michael's arm is in a cast and hurts. His dad has left early for work. Zack drives his brother to school. He sees Leo and his younger sister in the hallway. Leo borrows Zack's Spanish notes and Jodi flirts with him. Leo is protective of his younger sister. |
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Chapter Eight—Learning Curves
Summary:
Mr. O'Grady, the math teacher, is away at a conference. The substitute teacher is a beautiful blonde woman. Zack meets Michael at the car to go home. Jodi is talking to him. Michael tells her he broke his arm playing soccer. Zack plays along with the story. Jodi hands them flyers advertising the Retro Dance on Friday night. Michael tells Zack that Jodi has a crush on him. |
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Chapter Nine—Sucker Punch
Summary:
When Zack and Michael get home, no one is there. Zack and Michael grab a snack and watch TV. At 6:00 p.m. their Mom comes home with Shelli. They were at the hospital to see a doctor. Shelli has an ear infection. They order pizza for supper. Mr. Brown has not called or come home. Zack's mom looks tired, worried and angry. Zack and Michael go to bed, but Zack does not want to talk about their parents' troubles. When Zack wakes up after midnight, he hears his parents fighting and his dad asking for a divorce. |
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Chapter Ten—The Sound of a Heart Breaking
Summary:
Zack's dad leaves. His mother collapses in tears. Zack watches her go outside on the deck and decides to leave her alone for a while. He is angry with his father for doing this to the family. When Zack wakes up in the morning, the house is quiet. No one is up. Zack decides to let his mom sleep and gets everyone going for school. |
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Chapter Eleven—Playing Mom
Summary:
Zack does Shelli's hair, makes lunches and drives his sister and brother to school. He gets to school ten minutes late, signs a field trip form for Michael and hands him his lunch money for the fee. His mom did not get up. |
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Chapter Twelve—Questions and Answers
Summary:
When Zack gets to math class, Ms. Spencer is still the substitute math teacher. He is distracted about his dad leaving. At the end of the class Ms. Spencer asks about his dad. She knows him from selling her house. Zack thinks it is weird that she would ask about him. Heidi sees Zack in the hall. He asks her to the Retro Dance but she has to work. Michael needs a ride home and hopes his mom is out of bed. Heidi asks questions and Zack snaps at her. She walks away and Zack feels bad. |
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Chapter Thirteen—Common Denominator
Summary:
Zack's day passes like a blur. He just wants to get home. Leo asks him to go out in the evening but Zack brushes him off. Leo wants to know what is wrong. Zack spills the whole story about his parents getting divorced. Leo empathizes because his parents divorced when he was young. He explains what happened in his family. |
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Chapter Fourteen—The Bitter Truth
Summary:
Zack worries about what will happen to his family. Zack and Michael decide to stop and pick up some groceries. They will need to make supper if their mom is still in bed. They notice their dad in the store. A blonde woman is with him. She whispers in his ear and he kisses her. It is Ms. Spencer the substitute teacher. Michael confronts his dad. Mr. Brown wants to go somewhere to talk. There is an angry scene in the store. Zack asks Ms. Spencer how long she has been with his dad. He is furious. There is no satisfactory explanation for what is going on. |
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Chapter Fifteen—Confession
Summary:
Zack's dad tries to explain. He tries to tell them that he will always love them. Michael and Zack are confused and angry. They wonder if their mom knows about the other woman. They decide to tell her before she finds out from someone else. When they get home the house is cleaned up. Their mom calls them into the living room. She is telling Shelli. The boys tell her about the affair but she already knows. She doesn't want Shelli to know. Late that night she apologizes to Zack for the morning. They talk and she tries to answer Zack's questions. |
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Chapter Sixteen—Friends and Enemies
Summary:
Zack dreads going back to math class, but Ms. Spencer is not there. Zack tells Leo what he saw in the grocery store. Zack tells Heidi about the divorce. When he sees Kalen in the change room, Kalen tells Zack he is sorry about the situation. He tells Zack about his friend Scott's parents who were having problems but get back together. |
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Chapter Seventeen—Just One Dance
Summary:
By Friday, Zack's dad had not come over. Michael is helping out at home and not going out with his friends. Leo talks Zack into going to the Retro Dance. Jodi is at the dance and grabs Zack to dance. Zack is still focused on the scene with his dad at the store. At the end of the dance, Jodi kisses him. Heidi sees them together. |
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Chapter Eighteen—Caught!
Summary:
Heidi is angry with Zack and accuses him of cheating on her with Leo's sister. Leo pushes him down on the dance floor. Heidi storms off saying Zack is just like his dad. Zack is miserable. His dad is coming for a visit. |
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Chapter Nineteen—A Father's Love
Summary:
Zack's dad comes for a visit. They take a ride and stop for a coffee-both feeling awkward and uncomfortable. Zack's dad tries to apologize. He tells Zack he loves him. Zack is ready to punch him in the face. |
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Chapter Twenty—A Time for Truth
Summary:
Zack questions his father to find out why. He tries to explain but Zack yells in frustration, hurt and anger. His father asks to be treated with respect, but Zack scoffs at him and leaves the restaurant. His dad hopes that Zack will forgive him one day. Zack decides to walk home. |
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Chapter Twenty-One—Clear Conscience
Summary:
Zack finally calls Heidi and tries to apologize for hurting her. She needs time to think about things. She apologizes for telling him he is just like his dad. Leo stops by to take Zack fishing but first punches him in the stomach for messing with his sister. They head out and Zack feels better despite everything that is happening in his life. |
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After Reading — Post-Reading Reflection
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