Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Gren Angel by Alice Hoffman


Heart
What happened to Green's family?  Why wasn't she there?  How does she feel about herself now?
Vocabulary:
foretell (6)
douse (6)
defer (9)
coax (11)
embers (16)
edible (26)

Soul
How has Green changed her appearance?  How does this make her a different person?
Vocabulary:
brackish (37)
precaution (39)
dispute (41)
wary (44)

Treasure
Who has Ash begun to take care of?  How are her caring actions different than her changing looks?
Vocabulary:
dredged (62)
devoid (63)
salve (64)
converge (68)
famished (69)

Rain - Sister
Did Green really change throughout the story?  What did she gain and what did she lose?
Vocabulary:
render (86)
quench (92)
etched (100)

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Sort of Forever by Sally Warner


Prologue - Chapter 1
In what ways are Cady and Nana different?  How has cancer changed Nana?
Vocabulary:
flourish (1)
sputtering (8)
solemn (9)
fatigue (10)

Chapters 2 - 3
How has Nana's attitude about her future changed?  How do you think news from doctors caused this to change?
Vocabulary:
shabby (20)
exertion (20)
confidential (23)
prim (27)
jounce (36)

Chapters 4 - 5
Why do you think Athea's comments and questions made Cady so angry?
Vocabulary:
abdomen (46)
objected (52)
criticism (53)
vivid (64)

Chapter 6 - 8
Where do you think Russle's fear is coming from?  What is he afraid might happen?
Vocbaulary:
enticing (66)
trespassing (69)
transparent (73)
miffed (77)
fatigue (89)

Chapters 9 - 11
Cady is being pulled in two different directions by Laura and Nana.  What do each want from Cady?
Vocabulary:
giddy (99)
outrage (106)
monstrosity (113)
pixie (118)

Chapters 12 - 13
What ideas about life and death do you think the author wanted you to think about?
Vocabulary:
swivel (122)
rummage (123)

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick


Chapters 1 - 3
What do we know about our narrator?  What are his feelings towards Gram and Grim?
Vocabulary:
phony (2)
resembles (3)
vacant (6)
humongous (12)

Chapters 4 - 6
In what ways are our narrator and Freak similar to eachother?  How do they compliment one another?
Vocabulary:
sobriquet (15)
postulate (16)
spastic (25)
cretin (31)

Chapters 7 - 8
Why do you think Grim calls Max "son" after he comes home with the police?   How is this different from ususal, and might it mean?
Vocabulary:
perspective (34)
cavalry (38)
stern (42)
hoodlum (43)

Chapters 9 - 10
Max always does what Freak tells him.  Why do you think this is?
Vocabulary:
steed (49)
incision (51)
bionics (52)
smug (54)
optimum (56)

Chapters 11 - 12
How is Max treated at school?  Why does his relationship with Freak change that?
Vocabulary:
fidgety (64)
urgency (67)

Chapters 13 - 14
What are Grim's feelings about Killer Kane?  What actions has he promised?  What feelings do you think Max has?
Vocabulary:
dyslexic (81)
miraculous (84)
obligations (90)

Chapters 15 - 16
Why do you think Max just goes along with everything that's happeneing?  Why doesn't he say, "no" or run?
Vocabualry:
paralyzed (100)
deprived (103)
sass (105)

Chapters 17 - 19
What is you opinion of Loretta Lee?  How has she been important tot he story?  How has she changed throughout the story?
Vocabulary:
dysfunctional (109)
sorrwoful (111)
impressive (117)
ignorant (127)

Chapters 20 - 22
Why is Freak's birthday different?  Why do you think they would celebrate "Freak the Mighty" being one year old?
Vocabulary:
pry (128)
scuttle (131)
abducting (136)
prodigy (143)

Chapters 23 - 25
Do you think Kevin was a liar?  Why do you think he created something that wasn't true?
Vocabulary:
manifestation (149)
stabalize (151)

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception


Prolgue - Chapter 1
How did Opal spend the last two years?  What was she thinking about?  Why?
Vocabulary:
contradict (1)
exemplary (2)
incarceration (6)
docile (7)
catatonic (12)
siphoning (13)

Chapter 2
Why does Artemis feel he needs to steal The Fairy Thief?  What obstacles stand in his way?
Vocabulary:
ingenious (29)
ensnaring (31)
inquiries (24)
hypocrisy (35)
phobic (38)

Chapter 3
How did Opal outthink Root and Holly?  Why does she want revenge on them?
Vocabulary:
absorbed (58)
metropolis (61)
agitated (62)
sibilant (66)
deftly (69)
dour (73)

Chapter 4
What is Holly's life like now?  What is she accused of?  What does she know?  What are her options?
Vocabulary:
congested (91)
foremost (96)
authenticate (97)
subterfuge (98)
imminent (105)

Chapter 5
Why do you think Artemis trusts everything Holly told him?  Would you?  How might he help Holly?
Vocabulary:
reluctant (119)
authentic (122)
aghast (125)
rattled (132)

Chapter 6
What enables Butler to remember everything?  Why is the word important?  What does it mean?
Vocabulary:
optimistic (143)
conceal (149)
prestige (156)
patronizing (157)
sentient (163)

Chapter 7
How does Artemis feel about everything that's happening?  Why won't his memories return?
Vocabualry:
exorbitant (169)
condemned (171)
impudence (173)
derelict (175)
apt (178)
manacled (180)

Chapter 8
If Zito's probes do work as planned, what does it mean for the story?  Do you think it would help if Holly surrendered?
Vocabulary:
deduce (230)
condemn (231)
exhilarated (233)
megalomaniac (236)
euphoria (241)

Chapter 9
Draw a picture of Opal's plan as you understand it.  Label thinks like Haven and Opal.
Vocabulary:
melodic (248)
beleagured (250)
meandering (251)
legitimate (253)
sabotage (256)

Chapter 10
How does Artemis outhink Opal?  What are some of the ways she is showing her insanity?
Vocabualry:
exposure (263)
anomalies (269)
awe (276)
avert (282)
disparaging (288)

Chapters 11 - Epilogue
Artemis' return of The Fairy Thief means what for his future?  How has he changed fromt he beginning of the book?
Vocabulary:
subdue (324)
sedatives (337)
tantalizing (342)

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Blood Fever by Charlie Higson


Prologue - Chapter 1
What is the purpose of the Danger Society?  How do you join?  What do the members do?
Vocabulary:
bulwark (vi)
shoal (vii)
uncivial (xi)
protrude (xv)
evade (2)
jaunt (10)

Chapters 2 - 4
Describe James' aunt.  What does she do?  How does she feel about Latin?
Vocabulary:
gnarled (14)
decrepit (17)
prefect (24)
mock (30)
grisly (34)
mutely (40)

Chapters 5 - 6
What do we know about Zoltan?  Where is he from?  How did he become a sailor?  What is he planning?
Vocabulary:
horde (45)
drawl (50)
saunter (54)
cacophany (60)
sullen (62)
contraband (64)

Chapters 7 - 8
Why doesn't James trust Cooper-Ffrench?  What information do we know about him?
Vocabulary:
excavate (70)
skullguggery (73)
brusk (85)
raucous (87)
idle (90)

Chapters 9 - 11
Describe Count Ugo and his sister Jana.  How do they act?  How are they different from each other?
Vocabulary:
incongruous (98)
quay (103)
subconscious (105)
nauseous (109)
ensamble (115)
vivid (116)
extravagant (120)

Chapters 12 - 13
How does James' dive help to make Mauro a friend?  Does the attack later bring them closer together or farther apart?  Why?
Vocabulary:
desolate (129)
mimicked (133)
recoil (138)
neutrality (145)
chaotic (151)
grime (155)

Chapters 14 - 15
What is Ugo's house like?  What clues exist for James to discover Ugo's guilt?
Vocabulary:
lurid (158)
arid (159)
facades (162)
stable (173)
agitated (175)
replica (177)

Chapters 16 - 17
What is your opinion of Zoltan?  Is he a good or a bad character?  Has he been helpful or hurtful to James?
Vocabulary:
grimace (187)
excrement (189)
ungainly (191)
feud (149)
unimpeded (203)
primative (204)

Chapters 18 - 20
Who ends up working for Ugo?  Why?  What is he willing to do, or kill for his boss?
Vocabulary:
rivalry (215)
neglected (217)
discarded (220)
agile (227)
exquisite (236)
martyr (241)

Chapters 21 - 23
How does Ugo decide to torture James?  Why?  What happenes because fo the torture?
Vocabulary:
guise (246)
pierce (253)
menace (255)
livid (256)
writhe (264)
enquiring (266)

Chapters 24 - 25
What choise does James have about saving Amy?  Who wants to keep her?  What does James want to happen?
Vocabulary:
aromatic (276)
drowsiness (279)
dialect (283)
lurid (286)
sporatic (289)
tension (296)

Chapters 26 - 30
How does the story end for James?  What about for Zoltan?  Did he get what he wanted?
Vocabulary:
falter (299)
monotany (300)
entourage (312)
maneuvered (341)
trodden (346)

Woodsong by Gary Paulsen


Chapters 1 - 2
What do you think Gary Paulsen means when he says "knew nothing" about the doe or the dogs?
Vocabulary:
paradox (1)
tandem (2)
"run amuck" (9)
ignorant (11)

Chapters 3 - 4
Why was Gary Paulsen motivated to kill Scarhead?  Why didn't he do it?  How do you think you might have reacted?
Vocabulary:
clarity (21)
allieviate (22)
melancholy (32)
lope (33)

Chapters 5 - 6
These chapters are all about odd, unexplainable things.  Have you ever had something happen to you that you could not explain?  Write about it.
Vocabulary:
bachelor (42)
forlorn (44)
stark (49)
intricate (54)
frantic (58)

Chapter 7
What are some of the  ways that Storm was like a person?  Think of his personality and actions.
Vocabulary:
initially (64)
idiocy (67)
mutiny (68)
emit (76)

Chapter 8 - Day 1
In what wats is the lead dog important?  What does it do?  How does it get treated?
Vocabulary:
duration (80)
competence (83)
leper (90)

Day 2 - Day 6
Which of the dangers in the Iditarod sounds worst to you so far?  Why?
Vocabulary:
enormity (94)
pandemonium (95)
deprivation (96)
expanse (105)
indignant (106)

Day 7 - Days 16-17
After reading about the Iditarod, do you think it's something you would like to try?  Why or why not?
Vocabulary:
interior (12)
stultifying (113)
amiably (116)
primitave (122)
abate (128)

Tracker by Gary Paulsen


Chapters 1 - 2
Why is John upset about his grandfather?  What is he being asked to do alone?  Why?
Vocabulary:
ruddy (3)
texture (5)
manure (13)
ritual (16)

Chapters 3 - 4
What are John's grandfather's feelings about hunting?  Why does the family do it?
Vocabulary:
silage (21)
granary (22)
thrum (29)
tallow (30)

Chapters 5 - 6
What does the phrase "think deer" mean?  What does John think about while hunting?
Vocabulary:
assailed (36)
privy (40)
brutal (47)
delibrate (48)

Chapters 7 - 8
Describe how the deer looks when John comes across it.  Why do you think he doesn't shoot?
Vocabulary:
matted (52)
bounds (56)
intermittently (58)
persist (59)

Chapters 9 - 10
Why does John continue to follow the deer?  What does he think might happen or how he might feel?
Vocabulary:
"mortal danger (67)
taint (69)
quivering (77)
stagger (79)

Chapters 11 - 12
How does John's grandfather react to what John did with the doe?
Vocabulary:
halo (81)
heaving (83)
lamely (88)

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Ninth Grade Slays


Chapters 1 - 2
What advice did Uncle Otis send in the letter?  Why do you think Vlad does not want to control people?
Vocabulary:
provisions (3)
famished (7)
contrary (8)
incapable (12)
adept (14)

Chapter 3
What do we know about Joss?  In what ways is he like Vlad?  How do you think he will be involved in the story?
Vocabulary:
queasy (21)
bemused (22)
disdain (23)
retort (24)
straggler (32)

Chapters 4 - 6
Do you agree with Nelly that Vlad needs to be more careful?  How do you think people would react to what he really is?
Vocabulary:
traipse (42)
nausea (45)
hefted (50)
notoriety (51)
manipulating (55)
myriad (64)

Chapters 7 - 8
What evidence does Eddie Poe have about Vlad?  What other secrets does Vlad have to hide?
Vocabulary:
incredulous (75)
audibly (76)
recite (80)
mocking (90)
perusal (94)

Chapters 9 - 10
For what reason has Vlad gone to study with Vikas?  What qualities does Vikus have that could make him a good teacher?
Vocabulary:
mope (100)
quenched (102)
suffice (109)
solemn (114)
proximity (116)

Chapters 11 - 12
Describe a vampire funeral.  Do you think it would be a happy or a sad occasion?  Why?
Vocabulary:
intricate (121)
rotund (122)
valor (125)
heinous (129)
sacrilege (136)

Chapters 13 - 14
Explain the Pravus legend.  How does Vlad fit the prediction?  What does that mean he might do someday?
Vocabulary:
external (144)
futile (145)
smirk (147)
crested (164)
instill (166)

Chapters 15 - 17
What motivated Eddie to want to discover Vlad's secret?  What are his homelife and past like?
Vocabulary:
bemused (177)
omitted (185)
nauseating (192)
glorified (197)
oblige (200)

Chapters 18 - 19
Make a prediction about Jasik's role in the end of this book.  Will he be helpful or harmful to Vlad?
Vocabulary:
timid (206)
protocol (208)
bretheren (211)
vowing (218)
reminiscing (219)

Chapters 20 - 21
What feelings are competing in Joss' head?  What motivated him?  What are the outcomes of his choice?
Vocabulary:
minions (229)
venture (232)
demise (233)
propel (244)
consent (245)
epitome (245)

Chapters 22 - 23
How does the book end for Vlad?  Which friends and allies did he keep, and which did he lose?
Vocabulary:
haze (260)
winced (262)
feeble (268)
coax (272)

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer


Chapters 1 - 3
What are some of the ways that Vlad is different from Henry?  Why do you think they can still be friends?
Vocabulary:
peers (4)
protrude (5)
contemplation (8)
ingest (19)
lingering (26)

Chapters 4 - 5
In what ways is Mr. Otis Otis different from other teachers?  What predictions do you have about his role in the story?
Vocabulary:
assist (29)
subsequently (31)
emulate (32)
decipher (33)

Chapters 6 - 7
Why do you think Vlad didn't want to write about being a vampire?  Why could this be an easy thing for him?  Why might it be hard?
Vocabulary:
mortician (46)
infamous (52)
ignorant (54)
posture (66)
fascination (68)

Chapters 8 - 9
What truth did Vlad discover about his parents?  How did he discover this information?
Vocabulary:
gaudy (69)
stark (70)
antics (72)
snicker (81)
cryptic (82)

Chapters 10 - 11
What evidence exists that Mr. Otis murdered Vlad's parents?  What do you predict the truth will be?
Vocabulary:
sulking (98)
seethed (100)
extinguished (103)
scoff (108)
compsure (111)

Chapters 12 - 13
What is the truth about Elysia?  What does the council want Vlad?  How do they get him to come?
Vocabulary:
cadaver (124)
glyph (127)
droning (128)
divulge (138)
heritage (140)

Chapters 14 - 16
What are your thoughts about Vlad as a character?  Did he change or grow throughout the novel? How?
Vocabulary:
morphing (146)
undeniable (148)
ominous (153)

Closed For the Season by Mary Downing Hahn


Chapters 1 - 3
What is the history of Logan's new house?  Do you think Arthur should be believed?  Why or why not?
Vocabulary:
quaint (1)
cynical (2)
propinquity (3)
embellishments (8)
etiquette (10)
menacious (11)

Chapters 4 - 5
What facts do we know about the murder?  Why would someone do it?  Would you still live in the house?
Vocabulary:
exemplary (22)
morbid (23)
embezzled (24)
affable (31)
abode (32)

Chapters 6 - 8
Describe the magic forest.  Why is it important to the story?
Vocabulary:
perilously (39)
imbecile (41)
kudzu (46)
pulverize (50)
ignormous (53)
repentant (57)

Chapters 9 - 11
What is Violet trying to remember?  How might the toys and the map help her?
Vocabulary:
synthetic (67)
cower (69)
reluctantly (74)
picturesque (76)
saunter (82)

Chapters 12 - 13
What do we know about Arthur's past?  What are his family and home life like?
Vocabulary:
deftly (85)
irate (87)
ambled (93)
mutual (96)

Chapters 14 - 15
How are Anthony and Arthur different as friend possibilities?  How would school be different if each was Logan's friend?
Vocabulary:
amputate (99)
interior (107)
muffled (114)
insisted (117)

Chapters 16 - 17
What is your opinion of Nina?  Do you think she is helpful or harmful for Logan?  Make a prediction about her role in the end of the story.
Vocabulary:
flounced (119)
extricated (122)
hideous (133)
demolish (137)

Chapters 18 - 21
Did Danny change over the course of the story?  What hardships did he need to overcome?
Vocabulary:
phantom (147)
charade (157)
dilapidated (169)
pretentious (176)

Monday, June 3, 2013

The Dark Side of Nowhere by Neal Schusterman


Chapters 1 - 2
Why is Jason upset with his life?  What is wrong with it?
Vocabualry:
"keel over" (1)
solemn (2)
obliterate (6)
fanatic (12)
premonition (15)
strode (22)

Chapters 3 - 4
What is an epidemic?  What do we know about the events twenty years ago in Billington?
Vocabualry:
observant (24)
fallow (25)
mosaic (30)
taunt (38)
delirous (41)
mandatory (43)

Chapters 5 - 6
How do Jason's parents react to his glove?  What do you think they mean when they say, "not from here"?
Vocabualry:
isolate (49)
midst (54)
enigmatic (54)
eerie (56)
aura (58)
urgency (60)

Chapters 7 - 8
How did Ethan really die?  Why did he need human genes?  Where did everyone get thier DNA from?
Vocabualry:
loomed (68)
conquest (71)
exploit (73)
enlighten (85)
grime (89)
intuition (90)

Chapters 9 - 10
What truth has Jason learned about himself and the others?  Why will he not be able to tell them?
Vocabualry:
isolate (96)
guise (99)
menace (109)
reluctant (123)
marauding (125)
confrontation (129)

Chapters 11 - 13
Do you think Jason actually has to break up with Paula?  What are the reasons for and against it?
Vocabualry:
reconcile (135)
quivering (138)
mason (142)
salvage (143)
revamped (151)
diabolical (154)

Chapters 14 - 15
How have Jason's actions changed everything?  What can he do?  Where can he go?
vulnerable (163)
epidemic (167)
strode (169)
grandious (120)
depraved (170)
morose (180)

Chapters 16 - 17
Wht choice does Jason make in the end?  What could be the outcome of this choice?
Vocabualry:
contentment (199)
meander (205)
integrity (206)
splendor (226)
awestruck (229)