Step on a Crack Trivia Quiz

Answer: She had a severe allergic reaction to peanuts

Caroline and President Stephen Hopkins were having dinner at L'Arene, a restaurant in New York City. They had informed the staff at the restaurant that Caroline was allergic to peanuts, so they assumed it was a terrible mistake when she took the first bite of her food and had an immediate allergic reaction to the peanuts in the food. Caroline was rushed to the hospital, but she died shortly after arriving.

It was later revealed that the peanuts were intentionally added to Caroline's meal.

Answer: Cancer

Throughout the story, Michael Bennett and his ten children frequently visited Maeve in the hospital. While a brutal hijacking was the main focus of the plot, this family tragedy appeared sporadically. Michael took many breaks from handling the hijacking crisis to visit Maeve in the hospital, and the entire family visited her on Christmas Day to see her for the last time.

Answer: St. Patrick's Cathedral

The hijackers held the hostages at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where the funeral of former First Lady Caroline was being conducted at the time the hijackers arrived. Sing Sing was the prison at which the hijackers worked as guards. The hijackers had every entrance to the cathedral blocked so that the police and FBI could not get anyone inside to rescue the hostages.

Answer: She was the au pair that Michael's mother-in-law sent to help out with the family

Mary Catherine proved to be invaluable to Michael Bennett in his time of need. She made breakfast every morning for the whole family, got the family a Christmas tree, and even video taped the children performing in a Christmas pageant so that both Michael and Maeve could watch it. Mary Catherine and Seamus, Michael's father, took care of the children while Maeve was in the hospital and Michael was working.

Answer: A pony

According to Michael, Bridget is "clinically addicted to arts and crafts." Bridget took advantage of Mary Catherine being new by telling her that the pony she was making was a project for school. The pony was made with pink and white plastic beads, and it was nearly life-sized. Michael humorously remarked that there should have been a barn to keep the pony in.

Answer: The mayor

Everyone the hijackers killed was shot in the head, except the mayor. The mayor was stabbed and burned with cigarettes before he was killed because the hijackers felt he did not adequately punish the inmates who had severely beaten the hijackers while they were working as guards at Rikers Island. John Rooney was shot during the hijacking. Both Laura Winston and President Stephen Hopkins lived.

Answer: Jack

The leader of the hijackers chose the name Jack because he had "jacked" the cathedral and all the hostages inside of it. Little John was Jack's assistant hijacker. Mike was the detective who played the role of negotiator throughout the hijacking, and Charlie was one of the celebrity hostages. Towards the end of the novel, it was revealed that Jack's real name was Rocco Milton, but he never called himself by his real name.

Answer: They had stashed scuba gear in the river in advance

Crashing the getaway cars into the East River was the hijackers' back up plan. Since the police discovered their first method of escape, they were forced to use it. Using the stashed scuba gear, all of the hijackers swam miles down the river so that the police would not be able to find them.

After escaping, they returned to their normal lives with the intention of not using any of their stolen funds for a few months so as to avoid suspicion.

Answer: Yes

Thanks to a news reporter and an inmate of Sing Sing, Michael Bennett discovered that the hijackers worked at the prison. When the police went to the correctional facility, Jack and Little John trapped Michael in A-Block. They were prepared to beat Michael to death, but one inmate was able to grab Jack and enable Michael to apprehend the two hijackers.

While Michael was driving Jack to New York City for his arrest, he recorded Jack's confession to his hijacking crime.

Answer: FBI negotiator Paul Martelli

Paul Martelli was an FBI negotiator who worked with the NYPD throughout the hijacking crisis. The hijackers were able to predict and prepare for any efforts the police attempted to make in rescuing the hostages in part because of the information Martelli provided to the lead hijacker, Jack.

The Neat Man earned his nickname because he was constantly scrubbing his hands clean to the point of rubbing them raw. Michael Bennett was the arresting detective, Cathy Calvin was a reporter who helped Bennett discover the identities of the hijackers, and Rocco Milton was the lead hijacker who revealed the role Paul Martelli played in the hijacking.