Study Guide Questions
Chapter 1: Turtle Island
Chapter 2: The Evil Twin
Chapter 3: Slipstream
Chapter 4: Malila
Chapter 5: Travelling
Chapter 5 introduces a new setting. Using either words or pictures, describe the home, clothing, and food which the kids encounter in this chapter.
Chapter 6: Huckleberry Surprise
Chapter 7: History Channel
Chapter 8: Newt
Use words or a picture to show the girls tied up in the wood shed (include Crazy Bill in your scene).
Chapter 9: The Plan
In a few sentences, retell a scene from chapter nine that shows us an example of Cat expressing her fear as anger. Then, describe a scene from your own life where you have expressed your fear as anger, or witnessed someone else doing the same thing. (No classmates, please, and no real names!)
Chapter 10: Escape
Chapter 11: Year Travellers
To Newt, a lighter seems ridiculous and unnecessary. Imagine you have met someone from the past. Describe a modern object that might seem ridiculous to them.
Chapter 12: The Message
Chapter 13: Rehearsal
Design your own shadow puppet theater. Draw it, describe it with words, or build a model of it.
Chapter 14: Song of the Shamisen
Chapter 15: Boat Day News
Make up a legend of your own about why there is a year of the pig on the zodiac, but no year of the cow. (Or any two animals you choose.) Read or tell your legend to your reading group or to the class.
Chapter 16: The Mob
Write the answer to each question, as well as the page number where you found the answer.
Chapter 17: Crazy Bill Again
Make a prediction.
Chapter 18: The Letter
List three important things Maddy learned from the letter and from her grandma.
Chapter 1: Turtle Island
- What information does chapter one provide about the setting?
- What characters are introduced in the first chapter? Describe what you know about each one.
Chapter 2: The Evil Twin
- Who is the Evil Twin? Who do you think considers him “evil” and why?
- How did Duncan get his nickname? What does Draggin think his nickname is?
- How does Draggin learn about the plan to go lagoon-diving?
- Why does Draggin want to go with the girls?
Chapter 3: Slipstream
- Why does Maddy think it must be hard for her grandma to be on Cortes without Grandpa Paul?
- Why did the kids swim toward the arbutus tree rather than the rock?
- What do you think causes Maddy to shiver at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 4: Malila
- Why are the kids searching the beach?
- Describe Malila.
- What does Maddy think is happening?
- What does Draggin think is happening?
- What do you think is happening?
Chapter 5: Travelling
Chapter 5 introduces a new setting. Using either words or pictures, describe the home, clothing, and food which the kids encounter in this chapter.
Chapter 6: Huckleberry Surprise
- Describe at least one similarity and one difference that Maddy notices as she considers 1941 vs. 2015.
- What other things do we learn about Malila in this chapter?
Chapter 7: History Channel
- Why do you think chapter seven is called The History Channel?
- If you could time travel, what event in history would you visit and why?
Chapter 8: Newt
Use words or a picture to show the girls tied up in the wood shed (include Crazy Bill in your scene).
Chapter 9: The Plan
In a few sentences, retell a scene from chapter nine that shows us an example of Cat expressing her fear as anger. Then, describe a scene from your own life where you have expressed your fear as anger, or witnessed someone else doing the same thing. (No classmates, please, and no real names!)
Chapter 10: Escape
- How do the kids escape?
- Why do they set fire to the wood shed?
Chapter 11: Year Travellers
To Newt, a lighter seems ridiculous and unnecessary. Imagine you have met someone from the past. Describe a modern object that might seem ridiculous to them.
Chapter 12: The Message
- What clues made Yoshi less surprised to learn that the three kids are from the future?
- What is Yoshi’s plan for convincing his father that the message is real? Why does he think this will work?
Chapter 13: Rehearsal
Design your own shadow puppet theater. Draw it, describe it with words, or build a model of it.
Chapter 14: Song of the Shamisen
- Retell the legend the kids made up for puppet show.
- Make a prediction about what will happen in chapter 15.
Chapter 15: Boat Day News
Make up a legend of your own about why there is a year of the pig on the zodiac, but no year of the cow. (Or any two animals you choose.) Read or tell your legend to your reading group or to the class.
Chapter 16: The Mob
Write the answer to each question, as well as the page number where you found the answer.
- What kind of horse do the Tagawas own?
- How many sleepers was the hold of the fishing boat meant for?
- Who built the Tagawa’s house?
- What did they have for supper?
- What did Mr. Tagawa use to cut the chain holding the boat to the dock?
Chapter 17: Crazy Bill Again
Make a prediction.
Chapter 18: The Letter
List three important things Maddy learned from the letter and from her grandma.
