Ms. Russler – Pre-AP English 7

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald

DiscussionQuestions:

All discussion questions are to be answered in complete sentences. Your explanations should be thorough and give examples of text evidence. It is recommended that you use your book and the annotations in it to help you answer each question. Discussion questions are to be completed ONLY after you have read the section that corresponds with them. Do not attempt to guess or come up with an answer without reading! Remember, the more thought and effort you put into answering your discussion question, the more prepared you will be for class discussion and novel tests.

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Section 1: Prologue - chapter 5

  1. This novel is unique in that it has two main characters and shares both of their points of view. List the two main characters and give both physical/external and internal characteristics of each.
  2. Explain why Michael is excited about his birthday. Give at least two reasons.
  3. What is the setting of the novel? Describe the town from clues that the author gives you in this section.
  4. Who is the protagonist in the story? Who is the antagonist? (Remember that this novel is unique in its point dual point of view.)
  5. Make a list of secondary characters in the novel and give some information about each.
  6. How is Joe an accessory to the crime? What plan do the two boys devise?
  7. Why does Michael end up on the street where Jenna lives?
  8. How does the title of the novel become significant in this section? Explain in detail using text evidence.
  9. How has the shooting incident changed Michael’s relationship with Darcy?
  10. How does your perception of Amy change? What causes this?

Assigned Reading Dates:

Discussion Question Due Date:

Vocabulary Due Date:

Vocabulary Quiz Date:

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald

Discussion Questions:

All discussion questions are to be answered in complete sentences. Your explanations should be thorough and give examples of text evidence. It is recommended that you use your book and the annotations in it to help you answer each question. Discussion questions are to be completed ONLY after you have read the section that corresponds with them. Do not attempt to guess or come up with an answer without reading! Remember, the more thought and effort you put into answering your discussion question, the more prepared you will be for class discussion and novel tests. ______

Section 2: Chapter 6 – Chapter 9

  1. Describe Jenna’s dream about the Ghost Tree. How is this tree symbolic in the novel?
  2. What does Jenna do to her room? Why do you think she does this? (Remember to use evidence from the novel to support your opinion.)
  3. How does Jenna escape her problems (what does she do to divert her thoughts)?
  4. Why does Jenna like doing this?
  5. Do you believe Jenna’s actions help her cope with the stress of her situation? (Explain your answer, including specific detail to support your opinion.)
  6. Who is Jenna’s best friend? List character traits that her best friend possesses.
  7. How has the tragedy changed Jenna and her mother’s relationship?
  8. What does Michael continue to do every night? Who notices?
  9. Why do you believe Michael does this every night? (Explain your answer, including specific detail to support your opinion.)
  10. What happens when Jason tries to comfort Jenna?
  11. What news does the Ward family find out about the investigation?
  12. Who comes to Jenna’s rescue at the movie theater?

Assigned Reading Dates:

Discussion Question Due Date:

Vocabulary Due Date:

Vocabulary Quiz Date:

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald

Discussion Questions:

All discussion questions are to be answered in complete sentences. Your explanations should be thorough and give examples of text evidence. It is recommended that you use your book and the annotations in it to help you answer each question. Discussion questions are to be completed ONLY after you have read the section that corresponds with them. Do not attempt to guess or come up with an answer without reading! Remember, the more thought and effort you put into answering your discussion question, the more prepared you will be for class discussion and novel tests. ______

Section 3: Chapter 9 – Chapter 12

  1. Describe Michael’s nightmare. How is this significant to the story? (Use specific detail to support your reasoning.)
  2. What does Josh say that makes Michael mad? Why does this anger Michael?
  3. How does Michael’s relationship with Amy provide him comfort?
  4. What happens between Michael and Darcy?
  5. Why do you think Michael and Darcy have this outcome?
  6. What happens when the police come to question the Wards?
  7. How does Michael further complicate matters? Who does he involve?
  8. Contrast Michael and Joe. How are they different in the way they are handling the situation? (This needs to be a written response, not a Venn Diagram. Use text evidence to support the comparison of the two characters. You may consider internal/external character traits/motivations.)
  9. Why do you suppose Michael continues to maintain his friendship with Joe ?
  10. Why does Amy decide that she doesn’t want to talk to Michael anymore?

Assigned Reading Dates:

Discussion Question Due Date:

Vocabulary Due Date:

Vocabulary Quiz Date:

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald

Discussion Questions:

All discussion questions are to be answered in complete sentences. Your explanations should be thorough and give examples of text evidence. It is recommended that you use your book and the annotations in it to help you answer each question. Discussion questions are to be completed ONLY after you have read the section that corresponds with them. Do not attempt to guess or come up with an answer without reading! Remember, the more thought and effort you put into answering your discussion question, the more prepared you will be for class discussion and novel tests. ______

Section 4: Chapter 13 – Chapter 18

  1. Where does Jenna suggest she and Amy go? Why do you think Jenna wants to go here, in spite of the bad weather?
  2. What does Jenna find in the mail when she returns?
  3. How do both Jenna and Amy harbor grief for accidents they aren’t responsible for?
  4. Jenna dreams of the Ghost Tree once again. How is this dream different when compared to the dreams she has had of the tree before? Why is this significant?
  5. Jenna’s mother takes her outside to show her something. What has been happening around the Ward’s house?
  6. Why does Michael sneak around and do what he does outside the Ward’s house?
  7. What do the police find outside in the MacKenzie’s yard?
  8. How does this become important to the case?
  9. Why does Mr. MacKenzie need to believe that Joe is the one who fired the gun?
  10. Michael meets with Joe to tell him what has happened. How does this conversation between them go?
  11. What happens with the boys and Amy on the way back from the swamp?

Assigned Reading Dates:

Discussion Question Due Date:

Vocabulary Due Date:

Vocabulary Quiz Date:

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald

Discussion Questions:

All discussion questions are to be answered in complete sentences. Your explanations should be thorough and give examples of text evidence. It is recommended that you use your book and the annotations in it to help you answer each question. Discussion questions are to be completed ONLY after you have read the section that corresponds with them. Do not attempt to guess or come up with an answer without reading! Remember, the more thought and effort you put into answering your discussion question, the more prepared you will be for class discussion and novel tests. ______

Section 4: Chapter 19 – Chapter 25

  1. Jenna once again dreams of the Ghost Tree. What is different this time?
  2. What memory does the Ghost Tree make Jenna recall? What does this tell us about Charlie Ward?
  3. What development in the case do Jenna and her mother hear about?
  4. Jenna sneaks across town. Where does she go and why?
  5. Describe Joe’s demeanor in this part of the novel. What does this show the reader about Joe as a character?
  6. What does Michael learn from Joe that bothers him?
  7. When Michael visits Amy, what does she tell him? How does this change the relationship between the two of them?
  8. What does Jenna realize that she had forgotten about the day her Dad was killed? How does this upset her?
  9. Why do both Jenna and Michael end up at the Ghost Tree?
  10. What is the significance of the last section’s title, “The Healing”?
  11. Did you like the ending of the novel? Why or why not? (Be specific and use text evidence to support your reasoning.)

Assigned Reading Dates:

Discussion Question Due Date:

Vocabulary Due Date:

Vocabulary Quiz Date: