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question answer page Who is the author of ? Robert Hoge cover What did Robert Hoge say telling stories does for all of us? Holds us together like Krazy Glue intro What was Robert Vincent Hoge born A massive tumor in the middle of his face with? and two deformed legs. intro What was Robert Hoge's second To share his ' story with others reason for writing his book? who may have faced similar struggles. intro What was Robert Hoge's final reason To share what it means to grow up looking for writing his book? and feeling different. intro What is the solution Robert Hogue gives to fitting all the puzzle pieces of life together? Be unafraid of living. intro What did Robert Hoge compare a newborn baby to? A lump of clay. 1 What is the date of Robert Hoge's birthday? July 21, 1972 3 What was Robert's mom's name? Mary 3 What was Robert's dad's name? Vince 3 Worked at a factory where they made What did Robert's dad do for a living? food for chickens. 3 In what city and country did Robert and his family live? Brisbane, Australia 3 How many older brothers and sisters did Robert have? four 3 At what time was Robert born? 12:35 PM 3 four toe on his right foot and two on his How many toes did Robert have? left. 3 Why did Vince Hoge know his son was a He had grown up on his parents farm, fighter and would survive? birthing plenty of calves and lambs. 3 What was the day after Robert Hoge's birthday? His mother's birthday. 3 What would have caused Robert's If his deformities blocked the flow of head to swell up like a balloon and kill fluid that helps cushion the spine and him? brain. 7 What horrible thoughts did Robert's She wished he would die or go away. She mom have after Robert was born? decided to leave hi in the hospital. 7 What was Robert's oldest brother's name? Michael 7 How much older than Robert was Michael? ten 7 What was Robert's second oldest brother's name? Gary 7

How much older than Robert was Gary? eight 7 What was Robert's oldest sister's name? Paula 7 How much older than Robert was his sister, Paula? seven 7 What was Robert's youngest sister's name? Catherine 7 How much older than Robert was Catherine? four 7 How old was Robert when he had his first operation? five days old 9 What was the name of the surgeon who did Robert's first operation? Leigh Atkinson 9

Why did Mary Hoge call her member of To get their help in refusing to take parliament and then her local doctor? Robert home. 9 The whole family .... all his brothers and Who decided to bring Robert home? sisters. 14 What was causing Mary Hoge to have worry and concern about what other people thought? Her pride 14 What happened to Robert on August 28, 1972...a month and 5 days after he was born? He went home. 14 What did the four fences of the Hoge's yard become for Mary Hoge? Her prison 16 When a baby's lip and roof of the mouth What is a harelip or cleft palate? doesn't join together. 16 What was the name of the ocean pool where Robert and his family swam? Wynnum Wading Pool 18 You couldn't take three paces without What did local legend say about stepping on glass, dog poo, or a Wynnum Wading Pool? rusty piece of the pool's metal slide. 18 What was the reason a boy said you shouldn't go swimming in the Wynnum A baby shark sam through the grates and Wading Pool? grew up to be big enough to eat people. 18 What hospital did Robert go for his operations? Mater Children's Hospital 18 What was the first thing doctors did Amputated one foot and bottom of one to Robert? leg and fit him with a prosthesis. 18 What is a prosthesis? An artificial leg? 21 How old was Robert when he took . his first steps? three years old 21 What was one floor up from the hospital ward Robert was one? The hospital's chapel 23 Why were the doctors concerned, even though Robert's deformities didn't They were afraid it would make it hard threaten his physical health? for him to make friends. 23 What did the distance between Robert's eyes make it impossible for Use both of them at the same time to him to do? focus on anything. 26 Why wouldn't Robert be able to catch He had no depth perception -- he a ball? couldn't judge distances properly. 26 Why is doing surgery on a baby The structure is constantly changing -- difficult? bone plates move and grow. 26 When did doctors decide would be the best time to operate on Robert? When he was four and a half years old 28 What is the risk of being put under general anesthesia for six hours? The possibility of brain damage 28 What did doctors do with the cartilage in Robert's toes? They used it to build him a new nose. 28 What did Robert's mom tell his dad she would do if he refused to allow Robert to have the operation to fix his Leave him and take Robert with him so face? the decision would be all hers. 30 Who were the doctors who spent the most time talking with Robert's Dr. Atkinson and plastic surgeon, Dr. Tony parents after he was born? Emmett 32 Where had doctors traveled prior to doing Robert's surgery to learn about France, the United States, Scotland, and how to do it? Mexico 32 What was the name of the French surgeon who pioneered work in craniofacial surgery? Dr. Paul Tessier 32 What was Dr. Tessier's suggestion about Robert's surgeries? Do as many at once as possible. 32

What did Dr. Atkinson and Dr. Emmett . take home at night for practice? human skulls 34 How many surgical procedures were planned on Robert when he was 4 1/2? forty 34 How long did Robert's operation take when he was 4 1/2? 12 hours -- double expected 34 How many times had Robert's blood been replaced during his surgery? three times 34 The regulate body functions -- filter blood, produce hormones, help control blood pressure, and remove waste from What do kidneys do? the body. 37 What was the first thing Robert said after his big operation? I want to do a a poo. 37 His left eye was damaged when it was What damage was done to Robert when moved, causing permanently blurred he had his surgery at 4 1/2? vision. 39 How long did Robert stay in the hospital after his big operation? 3 weeks 39 What newspaper did a story on Robert? The Australian 39 To give recognition to the surgeons, and Why did the Australian want to do the to help other people who might be in the story on Robert? same situation. 39 What was the name of the journalist with The Australian who wrote the feature on Robert in May, 1977? Hugh Lunn 39 How long did Robert have to stay in the hospital because of the infection he got six weeks after he came home from the hospital? five months 39 What necklace did Robert's mom often A large coin with Queen Victoria set in wear? silver 39 What did Robert's mom do on Made cupcakes with Paula & Catherine's Saturday when his dad visited him? help. 39 They visited Robert and distributed What did the Hoges do on Sunday at cupcakes to the sick children on the the hospital? children's wards of the hospital. 39

What school did Robert's mom want him to attend when he started school? School at Wynnum 42 Who visited the Hoge's to see if Robert would be able to manage at Guardian Angels School at Wynnum? Sister Pauline 42 What did the Guardian Angels School at Wynnum uniforms look like? gray shorts and a blue shirt 42 How long did girls attend Guardian Angels Catholic elementary school? Till 7th grade. 45 How long did boys attend Guardian Angels Catholic elementary school? Till 4th grade 45 Where did boys go to school after 4th iona - a combined middle/high school with grade? students in grades 5 through 12. 45 What did Mary Hoge petition local Build a new bathroom block on the lower politicans to do at Iona? level of Iona school. 45 What colors were Iona's uniforms? green and blue and gray 45 Who was Robert's first friend at school? David 47 What did Robert always do with the apples his mom put in his lunch? Gave them to David 47 What did Robert do when his mom started putting two apples in his lunch? Gave both apples to David. 47 What happened to Robert during the first week of school? He broke his leg whlie going up the stairs. 49 Where did Robert's father take his artificial leg to get fixed? A service station that could weld it. 49 Where did Robert get an infection in Around some of the bones in his August, 1978? forehead. 52 Why did Robert's dad regret him Ever since the operation he kept getting having his big operation? sick. 52 What was the name of the suburb of Brisbane where the Hoges lived? Manly West 55 What did Robert really want to do that his siblings could do? Ride a bike 55 What were the disadvantages of They were heavy and they made his legs Robert's prosthetic legs? hot and sore. 55 What happened when Robert rode a He crashed into bushes with bees in bike for the first time? them 57 Which of Robert's siblings was he Catherinel because she was closest to closest with? him in age. 60 Why did Mary Hoge always warn her daugher, Catherine, to stay out of the sun? She had red hair. 60 What did someone steal from the top of the Hoge's refrigerator? chocolates 60 What was the first nickname Robert had at school, given to him by Catherine? spewed-on 65 When they were younger they were interested and curious about him....when What change did Robert sense in his he was seven they started to tease and classmates toward him? be mean to him. 65 What is the tag game with a tennis ball called? brandy 67 What did the kids all start calling Robert when he fell while playing brandy (tag)? cripple 67 Because of medicine his mom took while Why was Robert born deformed? pregnant. 70 What did Robert want to wish for in To buy 16 blocks of land and build a kind the wishing well of Wynnum? of Disneyland of his own. 70 Why was Robert banned from The doctors said the risk of infection swimming? was too high. 72 Where did the Hoges go on vacation each year? Caloundra 72 What did doctors allow Robert to do when he finished 1st grade? Learn to swim 72 Where did Robert learn to swim? Hollands swim School at Cannon Hill 72 What did Robert's mom sew to his Velcro so they could be fastened higher flippers? up on his legs 72 Where did Robert and his dad spend Manly Baths, Wynnum Wading Pool, and hours swimming? Caloundra. 73-74 Who was Robert's swimming trainer? Kerry 74 What did Kerry tell Robert she would give him when he swam half the length of the pool? A Ronald McDonald watch 74 What did they call Robert Hoge, Robert Firmin, and Robert Webb? The Three Roberts 81 What did Robert Hoge and Robert F They both loved books and stories about have in common? stars, planets, and spaceships. 81 What was the main reason Robert Hoge wanted to be friends with Robert W? Because his name was Robert. 81 Who were Robert's friends who lived Cassandra (next door) and Belinda & on his street? Evelyn (down the road) 81 What did Robert's mom send to Eveyln's house because they didn't have much money? canned beets 81 What did Cassandra and Robert play with most? legos 81 What did Cassandra and Robert do Took it out at night and listened for UFO with the old transistor radio? sounds at the bottom of the AM dial 82-83 What did Mary and Vince Hoge do Watched TV--news or current affairs between 6 and 7 pm? programs. 83 What did Robert watch on TV at Cassandra's house? Doctor Who. 83 What did Cassandra, Belinda, Evelyn, and Robert pick from Cassandra's yard and sell? grapefruit for 50 cents each 83 How much money did someone give Robert, Cassandra, Evelyn and Belinda for all the grapefruits? ten dollars 83 What did Cassandra's parents make them do with the ten dollars they made selling grapefruits? Give half of the money back. 86 What different jobs had Vince Hoge meat worker, cane cutter, forklift driver, done in his life? lawn-mower man 86 Why did Vince Hoge tell Robert he He knew he wouldn't be able to do hard needed to try harder in school? physical work, like digging ditches. 86 Skylab, the first space station they had launched, was going to fall and crash into What problem did NASA have in 1979? Earth. 90 For how many years did Skylab orbit the Earth? six years 90 How many photoes did Skylab take of the sun and Earth? ABout 170 photos 90 How many hours did astronauts spend doing space walks from Skylab? About 42 hours 90

Where was Skylab expected to crash? Somewhere in the southern hemisphere. 90 What did Robert and David imagine they would do when Skylab crashed Save their schoolmates from the into Earth? bathroom at their school. 90 In the Indian Ocean off Western Where did the pieces of Skylab end up Australia and hundreds of miles east of falling? Perth---2500 miles away from Brisbane 90 What special day did Guardian Angels Field Day with events like tunnel ball, tug have annually at Iona? of war, and sprints. 92 A new white sports T-shirt, green What did Robert wear for the 100 shorts, one sneaker and one long white meter sprint at field day? sock. 92 Why did the timekeeper of the 100 meter sprint have to ask other kids who won? Everyone was watching Robert. 94 What did Robert realize he could do with his disability? Make people laugh 94 Why did Sister Marie Patrice spank Robert and David on the bum? They were jumping around on one leg 97 What was the name of the bay near Guardian Angels school? Moreton Bay 97 What are the borders of Moreton Redcliffe on the north, Wellington Point Bay? on the south, Wynnum in the middle. 97 Moreton Island and North Stradbroke What islands are in Moreton Bay? Island 97 What happened when Robert wandered away from shore into the mud in He sunk into the mud and Sister Marie Moreton Bay? Patrice had to come and rescue him. 100 People who were so bad they had to be sent away from a penal colony to a special Who were sent to St. Helena Island? prison on an island. 102 What sport did Robert's mom manage the team for? the tennis team Catherine was on. 104 What sport did Robert want to play Rugby 104 What does Rugby lack compared to American football? helmets, pads, and cheerleaders 104

How many players are on a rugby team? 104 How many tackles (downs) did a team need to score efore the opposing team takes possession of the ball? six years 104 Doctors said he had to avoid knocks to Why was Robert not allowed to play his head...also he might hit someone with rugby? his artificial legs. 104 Who was in charge of organizing rugby teams? Mr. French 104 What did Mr. French let Robert do so Be the ball boy, kicking the ball back in he could be involved with rugby? when it went out of bounds. 106 What sport did Roberts mom want him to play? tennis 106 What sport was played in the summer in Brisbane? crickeet 109 What did two ladies think about Robert when they saw him in an That he had been injured playing rough elevator? sports. 111 When did Robert have his first male teacher? third grade - Mr. French 115 What did 3rd grade students in Mr. French's class spend most their time on? handwriting (cursive) 115 What did Mr. French do to Robert because his handwriting was sloppy? He hit his hands with a cane. 115 What did Robert decide about writing after Mr. French hit his hands with a He chose writing faster over writing cane? neatly 115 What made Gary Bolten, Robert's 4th He played guitar, taught them to make grade teacher, on of the best tacos, how to do batik, and read The Lord teachers he had ever had? of the Rings to the class. 117 What is the cloth dying process called in which wax patterns are painted on cloth and then dyed? batik 117 What book includes characters named Frodo, Sam, Gollu, and Shelob? The Lord of the Rings 117 What is Shelob? A giant spider 117 Who was Robert's first true love? Michelle 117 What did Robert do with a green pencil when he was ten? Wrote a poem to Michelle, who he loved. 117 What did Robert's brother, Michael, tell him happened at Iona if you spit on One of the seniors makes you get on your the ground? hands and knees and lick it up. 122 What was the big asphalt area of Iona called? The quadrangle 125 How many students attended Iona? Nearly one thousand 125 What did a boy call Robert after he had been at Iona for a few weeks? Toe Nose 125 Why did people call Robert 'Toothpick His artificial legs were made of Legs'? fiberglass, metal, and rubber. 127 What was the hurt factor of people calling Robert 'flat nose'? medium 127 Who wrote the story, The Adventures of Pinocchio in the 1880s? Carlo Collodi 127 An animated series about a bumbling detective that started in the early What was Inspector Gadget? 1980s. 129 From what Latin words does the word retardare, 'to slow down' and 'retard' derive from? 'tardus' meaning slow. 129 Which nickname Robert got in school was his favorite? Transformer 131 toys by Hasbro in the 1980's that were robots that changed into cars, planes, What are Transformers? motorcycles, and trucks. 131 What does the old English word 'crypel' mean? To creep 133 What do people usually say now, rather than 'crippled' for someone who had difficulty walking? disabled 133 What was the name of the hospital where doctors used cartilage from Robert's toe to form his nose? Mater Hospital 133 What is the only nickname that still has the power to hurt Robert....the one he never got over? toe nose 133

Where was Robert's school camp held? Tallebudgera Creek on the Gold Coast 138 How far from Brisbane is Tallebudgera Creek? an hour and a half 138 Most kids threw their schoobags int he corner when they got home from school....what did Robert throw? His legs 138 What did the camp directors announce they were going to do at camp on Wednesday night, rather than watch a movie? Have a talent show. 141 What was Robert's talent, which he did all the time with Cassandra? handstands 143 What was Robert's special trick he showed off at the talent show? Walking on his hands. 143 What did Robert and his team get for winning the talent show? a chocolate bar 146 What season of the year is Christmas in Australia? summer 151 What was Robert now allowed to do on the day he was scheduled to have surgery in the afternoon? Have breakfast or lunch 151 What complication happened when they put splints in Robert's nose? Tissue grew around them. 154 What did Robert refer to as the 'dark octopus' which always made him feel sick? general anesthesia 154 What was the name of the elementary school rugby coach who let Robert help with coaching? Mr. McConnell 156 Tallied which players made tackles or big What did Robert do as rugby coach? runs. 156 What kind of war did Robert and his classmates have in the year 1983? The Great Spitball War 156 What did Roberts class get as a punishment for all the spitballs? a week's lunchtime detention 156 How old was Robert when he started 8th grade? twelve 156 What did Robert and other students have to do every Tuesday afternoon in high school? health and leisure activities 158 Where did Robert first play lawn bowls? Wynnum Ex-Services Bowls Club 158 What was next to the Wyunnum Ex- Services Bowls Club? The local dump 158 What did Robert do at the dump by the bay? Scavenge for treasures 158 What is the name of the white ball in lawn bowls a player tries to roll his ball as close as possible to? the jack 158 Why did an English king ban lawn bowls Too many people were playing it and in the 1300s? neglecting their archery training. 158 What was the name of Robert's lawn bowl rival? Shaun Luck 160 What was the name of the volunteer from the Wynnum Bowls Club who worked with Robert and coached him to become an expert lawn bowler? Frank Plant 160 What was Robert doing wrong when he bowled that Frank told him to stop doing? Looked down at the ground 163 Come to his club on Saturday, meet a What did Frank Plant invite Robert to coach, and be assessed for disabled do? bowling. 163 What was across the road from Wynnum Bowls Club? The tennis club where Catherine played. 165 What was the name of the coach Frank Plant brought to meet Robert? Peter Reid 165 What did Frank Plant give to Robert to A metal stand his son had made for him help him bowl better? to lean on when he bowled. 165 Why was the man from the Wynnum Ex- Services Bowls Club mad at Frank For giving special coaching sessions to Plant? Robert. 167

What did the metal stand Frank's son Play in normal lawn bowls competitions, had made allow Robert to do? rather than signing up for disabled bowls. 170 What does the lead bowler in lawn bowls do? Goes first. 172 What is the fourth bowler in lawn bowls called? The skip 172 In lawn bowls, which player is in charge? The fourth bowler--the skip. 172 What is the only acceptable response to a skip's orders in lawn bowls? Yes, skip! 172 What is a lawn bowls shot called when it's thrown as fast as possible? A drive 172 What lawn bowls organization did Robert join? The Queensland Lawn Bowls Association 176 What did Robert use to squirt water at people at school? His mom's empty shampoo bottle 180 What did students start filling bottles with to shoot at each other? water and toothpaste or shampoo 180 A picture of him with a huge nose and What was the insulting picture Robert spaceships entering his nostrils, entitled, drew of his classmate, Ben? "Spaceport Ben'. 182 What was the name of the deputy principal when Robert was in 9th grade? Mr. Fuller 185 What did Robert choose to do for work experience in 10th grade? Being a teacher 187 Why did the Iona school principal say she wished she had been warned about They had to switch Robert from the 2nd Robert doing his work experience in grade class to the 7th grade class the classrooms there? because of how he looked. 187 How do you spell the plural of potato? potatoes 187 How old was Robert when he parents allowed him to choose whether or not to have an operation? fourteen 193 What did Robert decide when he was fourteen? To never have any more operations. 198 Does Robert believe its better to speak politely or honestly? honestly...but without being mean 209 What advice did Robert give about speaking to someone who is differently- abled? Don't be shy--come and talk to them. 209 What is Robert's favorite Australian animal? kookaburra - a bird 213 What is the most important lesson Robert wants readers to learn from It's okay to be who you are and to be his story? different. 213