1. What is the meaning of the good lord bird? What does it represent?  How does it connect to to the title of the book?

• The good lord bird is described on page 33 as a woodpecker because, "when man sees it, he says, 'Good Lord'". Its feathers are said to bring you understanding that will last your whole life. The bird basically hypnotized Fred while they were looking at it and instead of taking the chance to run away, Henry took out the feather from a good lord bird that John Brown had given him. This connects to the story because John Brown had given Henry a feather which symbolized a lifetime of understanding. This is fitting because John Brown was an abolitionist trying to fight for the freedom of slaves which proves that he has an understanding that he was trying to share with Henry. Also, the book in itself represents coming of age and self discovery. While being freed from one owner, Henry finds himself under the control of yet another white man. The need for freedom is a constant as the story goes on which relates to a bird needing to fly. Henry tries to take flight multiple times during the story which connects him to the good lord bird. 

2. What is Henry’s nickname?  How did he earn it?

• Henry was nicknamed "Little Onion" because when John Brown reached into his coat pocket and dug out a dirty old onion, Henry thought that he was supposed to eat it, which he did. The onion turned out to be John Brown's good luck charm that he was giving to Henry as a gift now that he was free. Since he ate it, Henry became John Brown's new good luck charm and was therefore called "Little Onion".

3. What was Henry’s rationale for continuing to live a lie?  Was it justifiable?

• Henry was unable to inform John Brown in the beginning that his name was actually Henry and that he was in fact a male. As time went on, it became harder and harder to try and correct John Brown. Furthermore, Henry knew that he would be treated differently as a female than as a male so it seemed like the smart decision to stick to the lie and keep pretending to be Henrietta.