A Visit from the Goon Squad

Part A, Chapters 1-2

Reading Check

1. She is a kleptomaniac. (Chapter 1)

2. The scent of bath salts (Chapter 1)

3. A piece of paper on which “I BELIEVE IN YOU” is written (Chapter 1)

4. Stop/Go (Chapter 2)

Short Answer

1. The shame she feels about taking personal objects from people suggests that she wants to overcome her kleptomania. (Chapter 1)

2. Chris seems to engage with him more than he usually does. (Chapter 2)

3. Chapter 2 takes place before Chapter 1 because in Chapter 1, Sasha refers to Bennie as her “old boss.” (Chapters 1-2)

Part A, Chapters 3-4

Reading Check

1. Mabuhay Gardens (Chapter 3)

2. They’re on safari. (Chapter 4)

3. As an anthropologist (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. He takes an interest in Bennie’s career. Jocelyn also performs oral sex on Lou. (Chapter 3)

2. It implies that Lou is using his power as a wealthy older man to convince the girls that they should do what he wants. (Chapter 3)

3. She is likely implying a connection between this moment and what happened to them later in life. (Chapter 4)

Part A, Chapters 5-6

Reading Check

1. Lou has had a second stroke. (Chapter 5)

2.  A fish (Chapter 6)

3. Alice (Chapter 6)

4. SPIN magazine (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. This chapter shows how he affected each of their lives as they grew older. It is a return to Lou with “Lou’s girls,” holding his hands. (Chapter 5)

2. She thinks Jocelyn asked about Rolph to hurt Lou. (Chapter 5)

3. He has realized that he and Bennie are more enemies than friends. (Chapter 6)

Part B, Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. Stephanie (Chapter 7)

2. He’s a journalist. (Chapter 7)

3. Kathy’s bobby pin (Chapter 7)

4. La Doll (Chapter 8)

5. A magazine article (Chapter 9)

Short Answer

1. Stephanie feels like she’s part of a community, while Bennie feels excluded. (Chapter 7)

2. Bosco wants to make a spectacle of his death. (Chapter 7)

3. Dolly hopes it will strengthen their relationship. (Chapter 8)

4. It means that she will not give him much gossip. (Chapter 9)

Part B, Chapters 10-11

Reading Check

1. Sasha’s best friend (Chapter 10)

2. That they met when Sasha was in college (Chapter 10)

3. Sasha takes and later returns it. (Chapter 11)

Short Answer

1. He’s afraid he might lose Sasha as an emotional support as her relationship with Drew deepens. (Chapter 10)

2. It is implied that Rob is attracted to Drew. (Chapter 10)

3. He is supposed to be searching for Sasha, but he’s exploring Naples. (Chapter 11)

4. She is no longer a child. (Chapter 11)

Part B, Chapters 12-13

Reading Check

1. The desert (Chapter 12)

2. She creates sculptures. (Chapter 12)

3. “Pointer” (Chapter 13)

Short Answer

1. He samples the pauses and uses them to create his own music. (Chapter 12)

2. She convinces him to make a graph of the musical pauses. (Chapter 12)

3. She saw a picture of Sasha in a book about a rock and roll star. (Chapter 12)

4. She sees them as an out-of-date concept. (Chapter 13)