Big Time: Questions and Answers – A Study Companion

This guide answers 15 essential questions about Jen Spyra’s Big Time, drawing on the chapter text to explore character decisions, symbols, foreshadowing, and thematic connections. Each answer is supported by evidence from the book, with interpretation that deepens understanding. Use the links to navigate to character and theme pages for further analysis.

Chapter 14: Why does Ruby decide to apologize to Bobbi at the end of “Big Time”?

Ruby’s journey from 1917 to 2021 makes her confront the selfishness that defined her earlier life. After gaining viral fame and surviving a near-drowning, she realizes her betrayal of Bobbi—her orphanage friend—was a turning point she can no longer ignore. Seeking out Bobbi to apologize marks a shift from ambition-driven exploitation to personal redemption. Ruby acknowledges that her past actions hurt someone who truly cared for her, and this act of contrition represents her first genuine step toward self-awareness and moral growth.

Evidence context: In the final paragraphs of chapter 14, Ruby reflects on how she “treated her like I did” and decides to find Bobbi. Earlier in the chapter, she had suppressed the thought, telling herself Bobbi was probably dead and wouldn’t want to see her. The resolution shows Ruby finally prioritizing a relationship over her own advancement. Interpretation: This mirrors the theme of identity and self-discovery, as Ruby chooses to define herself not by fame but by reconciliation.

Chapter 8: How does Seth’s King Kong mask foreshadow later events in “Monster Goo”?

Seth first uses the mask to scare Zack while they are still normal-sized kids, and later wears it again when he enters the tent in Rotterdam to announce he has found the cure. The mask becomes a symbol of Seth’s role as both a prankster and a loyal friend. Its reappearance at the critical moment of Zack’s planned euthanasia turns horror into relief, echoing how Seth’s interventions often shift Zack’s despair toward hope.

Evidence context: In chapter 8, the mask is introduced when Seth jumps out and giggles, “Gotcha!” Zack is initially afraid but then relieved. Years later, when Zack sees the monster lumber into the circus tent, he shields his parents, but Seth “took his face off with a flourish” and reveals the cure. Interpretation: The mask ties the beginning and end of the arc, emphasizing that Seth’s unpredictable support is a constant in Zack’s life.

Chapter 5: What does Hornstroth’s rebellion against Molly reveal about her character arc in “Birthday Girl”?

Hornstroth begins as a self-doubting, eager-to-please friend who tolerates Molly’s cruel tests, including an EpiPen attack. When Molly denies Fernando a bread roll and cancels the poké bowl station, Hornstroth snaps. She fights Molly, kills her, and declares herself the new birthday girl. This transformation shows Hornstroth moving from passive victim to assertive leader, embracing the very power ritual that had enslaved others.

Evidence context: Hornstroth’s internal monologue reveals she feels “uncorked” and “in control” for the first time. She uses a sword, stabs an EpiPen into Molly’s eye, and later feeds Molly’s body to the group. The chapter ends with her eating a poké bowl made from Molly’s heart. Interpretation: The rebellion is both a literal power grab and a symbolic rejection of toxic friendship, as Hornstroth claims the exclusive role of birthday girl.

Chapter 3: Why does Elijah keep the sweatshirt from Maggie in “The Snowman”?

Elijah cherishes the sweatshirt Maggie gives him as proof that the magical night with the snowman really happened. After the snowman melts, leaving only slush and mementos, the sweatshirt becomes Elijah’s only tangible link to an experience that felt dreamlike. He keeps it even after discovering the snowman’s predatory behavior, suggesting that for Elijah, the wonder of the adventure outweighs the dark revelations.

Evidence context: In chapter 3, Maggie gives Elijah the sweatshirt when he says he’s cold. Later, after finding the snowman masturbating over his family photo, Elijah runs to bed. The next morning he checks under his pillow: “It was there!” He writes that he cherishes it to this day. Interpretation: The sweatshirt symbolizes the innocence of childhood imagination, which Elijah clings to despite the disillusioning reality of the snowman’s corruption.

Chapter 14: How does Ruby’s encounter with Marlene Dietrich mirror her later experiences in modern Hollywood?

When Ruby meets Dietrich in the studio commissary, Dietrich dismisses her as “Straight off the bus” and writes a condescending note to shop at Saks. Decades later, in 2021, Ruby again feels out of place among the “big shots” and is initially ignored. Both moments highlight Ruby being judged by her appearance and lack of insider knowledge. Yet Ruby’s stubborn resilience—using her wits to get ahead—remains unchanged, bridging her old and new Hollywood struggles.

Evidence context: Dietrich mutters “Straight off the bus” and the note reads “For when you get a few pennies: Saks / 9600 Wilshire Blvd / Marlene Dietrich.” In 2021, Ruby wears a jacket that impresses Emma, but she struggles to understand modern slang and technology. Interpretation: The parallel underscores Ruby’s recurring outsider status and her adaptability through charm and determination.

Chapter 8: What is the significance of the “Space Jam” song in “Monster Goo”?

The song “Space Jam” plays from Zack’s boom box at the start of the chapter, establishing his childhood world. Later, as Zack grows to fifty feet, he uses the song to comfort himself. At the very end, when the shrink juice overshrinks him to insect size and a basketball falls toward him, he sings “Space Jam” again. The song becomes a thread of continuity—a childlike anchor amid the body horror and trauma.

Evidence context: In chapter 8, Zack’s boom box blares “Welcome to the Space Jam” as he shoots hoops. After he becomes giant, he drops baskets and yells the lyrics. In the final scene, as the basketball threatens to crush him, he sings the song. Interpretation: The song represents Zack’s lost normalcy and his attempt to reclaim a sense of play, even as his life spirals into tragedy.

Chapter 5: How does the “build-your-own-poké-bowl station” become a symbol of Hornstroth’s transformation in “Birthday Girl”?

The poké bowl station is listed on the invitation but never delivered, making it a symbol of Molly’s broken promises and arbitrary power. When Hornstroth rebels, she cites the missing station as part of her grievance. After killing Molly, she prepares a poké bowl from Molly’s heart, literally consuming the symbol of her oppression. It becomes her trophy, signifying she now holds the power to fulfill (or deny) her own desires.

Evidence context: Hornstroth says, “It said right there on the invitation … where the fuck is it?” After the sword fight, she places Molly’s heart in a bowl with spicy mayo and avocado, calling it “the ultimate build-your-own poké bowl.” Interpretation: The station evolves from a broken expectation to a physical claim of authority, marking Hornstroth’s full embrace of the birthday power ritual.

Chapter 14: What does Ruby’s visit to Merv Allen reveal about changes in Hollywood from 1942 to 2021?

In 1942, Ruby used her sexuality to get ahead, offering Merv a blowjob for a role. When she visits him in 2021, Merv stops her hand and explains that “that’s not how they do things anymore.” He also mentions his chorizo was removed in 2009, implying the industry has curbed exploitative practices. The scene satirizes both eras—showing that while the old power dynamics have evolved, new ones (online followers, viral fame) have taken their place.

Evidence context: Ruby reaches for his pajama drawstring, but Merv says, “That’s not how they do things anymore. And it’s no go, anyway. The NBC board voted to have my chorizo removed in ’09.” Interpretation: The moment highlights the shift from clandestine sexual bartering to a more public, though still transactional, economy of attention and influence.

Chapter 8: Why does Zack choose to star in adult films after his sister’s death in “Monster Goo”?

After Meezy dies by suicide, Zack’s family falls apart: his mother drinks, his father retreats, and Zack himself struggles with his emerging gay identity. Being fifty feet tall makes him a physical spectacle, and the adult film industry offers money and a sense of purpose—however degrading. He submits to the roles, including one where a “horny robot” violates him, because he feels his life is already ruined and sees no other way to provide for his family or escape his shame.

Evidence context: The chapter notes Zack “starred in over sixty adult films” after Seth whispers “Get the hula hoops.” His mother accompanies him to set. Later, he tells his parents he wants to move to Rotterdam for euthanasia. Interpretation: The adult films are a desperate attempt to find value and control in a body that has become a monster; they also reflect his internalized homophobia and self-loathing.

Chapter 3: How does the snowman’s behavior toward Elijah’s family photo expose his true nature in “The Snowman”?

The snowman appears magical and childlike at first, flying Elijah to a strip mall and stealing flowers. But when he returns to the house, he masturbates over a photo of Elijah’s mother. This act shatters Elijah’s innocence, revealing the snowman as a corrupt, predatory adult figure. The contrast between the wondrous flight and the sordid climax underscores the story’s disillusionment theme: not all magic is good.

Evidence context: Elijah finds the snowman in the bathroom “holding a photograph of my family and jerking his twig hand.” The snowman stares with an “intense, slack-jawed expression.” Interpretation: This moment turns the fairy-tale premise on its head, showing that the snowman’s desire is not for friendship but for sexual gratification, making Elijah complicit in a violation.

Chapter 5: What is the role of the “EpiPen” motif in Hornstroth’s story in “Birthday Girl”?

Hornstroth has a nut allergy, and Molly deliberately serves almond-flavored Coke, forcing Hornstroth to use an EpiPen. The EpiPen becomes a symbol of Molly’s passive-aggressive cruelty and of Hornstroth’s vulnerability. During the final fight, Hornstroth stabs an EpiPen into Molly’s eye, repurposing the tool of her oppression into a weapon. This reversal shows Hornstroth reclaiming agency over her own body and survival.

Evidence context: On the plane, Hornstroth drinks the Coke and must stab herself in the thigh. Later, Molly tries to force peanuts into her mouth. In the fight, Hornstroth “stabbed it in Molly’s eyeball.” Interpretation: The EpiPen motif traces Hornstroth’s journey from victim to victor, as she learns to turn Molly’s weapons against her.

Chapter 14: How does Emma’s offer to let Ruby stay with her contrast with Ruby’s earlier treatment of Bobbi?

Emma offers Ruby a place to stay without any expectation of return, saying, “you could crash with me for a couple days.” In contrast, Ruby had betrayed Bobbi—her orphanage friend who had shown her kindness—by abandoning their friendship once Ruby started climbing in Hollywood. The parallel highlights Ruby’s growth: she is now on the receiving end of unselfish generosity, which prompts her to reconsider her past selfishness and seek out Bobbi to apologize.

Evidence context: Ruby initially rejects the offer, saying she wasn’t “about to take charity,” but eventually accepts. Later, she thinks of Bobbi: “she probably wouldn’t want to see me, anyway. … What can you do?” Then she changes her mind. Interpretation: Emma’s kindness models the grace Ruby had never given, catalyzing her turn toward redemption.

Chapter 8: How does the failure of the “shrink juice” at the end relate to the theme of identity in “Monster Goo”?

Seth’s shrink juice works, but it overshrinks Zack to insect size, and a falling basketball threatens to crush him. The cure is imperfect, much like Zack’s attempts to find a stable identity. He was a normal boy, then a giant, then an adult film star, and now he is a tiny creature singing “Space Jam.” The ending suggests that identity is fluid and that no single transformation can fully resolve the trauma that started with the monster goo.

Evidence context: The chapter ends with Zack “singing ‘Space Jam’” as the basketball descends. The potion that successfully shrinks him then continues to shrink him. Interpretation: The incomplete cure mirrors Zack’s incomplete journey toward self-acceptance; he is still caught between his past and an uncertain future.

Chapter 5: Why does Hornstroth feel “in control” for the first time during the sword fight in “Birthday Girl”?

Hornstroth has spent years molding herself to Molly’s preferences, suppressing her own feelings. When she finally confronts Molly, she acts on instinct and emotion rather than fear. She describes herself as “uncorked” and notes that her moves come naturally, as if from watching fencing tournaments. This physical control parallels her emotional breakthrough—she is done letting Molly dictate her worth. Her victory is not just over Molly but over her own subservience.

Evidence context: Hornstroth says, “I felt uncorked! … This was the real me talking. … For the first time all weekend, and perhaps all of my life, I felt in control.” She blocks Molly’s slap, stabs her with the EpiPen, and later declares, “I’m the birthday girl now.” Interpretation: The sword fight externalizes her internal rebellion; gaining control of the blade means gaining control of her life.

Chapter 14: What does Ruby’s reaction to Betty Grable reveal about her competitive nature in “Big Time”?

When Ruby learns that Betty Grable replaced her in Rootin’ Tootin’ Rebel of Rio, she responds with a crude insult about Grable’s worth. Ruby’s jealousy is raw and immediate—she sees Grable as “medium-talent” and “five-cent vagina.” The reaction shows Ruby’s insecurity and her belief that success is a zero-sum game. Yet it also reveals her fierce pride in her own abilities; she can’t stand being replaced by someone she considers inferior.

Evidence context: Ruby says, “They subbed in a Slim Jim for a ribeye!” and later, “I almost fell in.” The other women are horrified, not amused. Interpretation: This moment foreshadows Ruby’s later growth; she must learn that cooperation and humility are more valuable than cutting others down to elevate herself.