BOB Just a Drop of Water

Each chapter begins with the month, day and year. The book covers 21 days.

Jake and Sam run track and cross country. They expect to be co-captains of the cross country team.

They really want to beat Palmetto Ridge, aka Palmetto Bugs because they run dirty. The trip kids or push them into the bushed when they are in the woods and no one can see what they are doing

Even thought they live in Florida their next door neighbors are ghostly white. Rumor is they are vampires and now Jake's mom volunteered him to take care of their yard for several months.

His mom is suddenly worried and trying to be prepared for anything that might happen. They go to the store and stock up and then get lots of cash from their ATM. She cries a lot.

One of the terrorists had an account at Sam's dad's bank.

It is possible Sam's dad helped Atta get a ton of cash from a wire transfer. The FBI was checking into it.

You cannot change the mind of a bigot. And throwing punches doesn't solve anything.

Cross country is a sport that makes you think. There's strategy to running a race and you have to play it smart. There is no straight shot to the finish line and you have to be ready for whatever comes your way.

The story is told in the first person by an 8th grade boy who runs cross country and whose best friend is a Muslim.

His grandfather was an ambassador for the United States in the Sudan. He was kidnapped and killed.

The title of the book comes from a line in the song, "Dust in the Wind."

We are small things in a great big universe but even one small thing can make a ripple in the giant ocean.

His class is planning a Night of Peace at school. The have speakers from many nationalities coming and they will play a basketball game. The Freedom Fighters against the Peace Players.

Mr. Wilkey was at Pearl Harbor. He seems to know a great deal about Jake. He figured out that Bobby was going to do something dangerous and followed the boys.