Jip, His Story Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
Jip, His Story has 20 chapters · 191 pages
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Inside the journal: 20 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Written for this book Questions about this story, good after any chapter.
So far, what do you know about Jip’s life at the Vermont poor farm, and what details help you understand what his daily life is like?See all 20 questions ↓
About the book
While living on a Vermont poor farm during 1855 and 1856, Jip learns his identity and that of his mother and comes to understand how he arrived at this place.
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Jip, His Story questions by chapter
We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. One question per chapter, across all 20 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
So far, what do you know about Jip’s life at the Vermont poor farm, and what details help you understand what his daily life is like?
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Chapter 2
What is one choice Jip makes in this chapter, and what does that choice show about the kind of person he is?
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Chapter 3
How does the setting of the poor farm affect Jip and the other people who live there?
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Chapter 4
What relationship seems most important to Jip right now, and why does it matter to him?
Example answer: I think Jip’s relationship with Put is very important to him. Put is someone Jip cares about, even though other people might not understand him. Jip seems to notice when Put needs kindness or patience. This matters because it shows that Jip wants to belong to someone and also wants to protect people who are treated unfairly.
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Chapter 5
Choose one word or phrase from this chapter that feels important or old-fashioned. What do you think it means, and how does it help tell the story?
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Chapter 6
How does Jip treat someone who is weaker, lonelier, or more troubled than he is? What does this show about his heart?
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Chapter 7
What questions does Jip have about himself or his past so far, and how do those questions affect him?
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Chapter 8
What is one moment in this chapter that made you feel worried, hopeful, or curious? Explain why it affected you.
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Chapter 9
How does Katherine Paterson show that life in Jip’s time could be unfair for poor people, children, or people without power?
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Chapter 10
What do you notice about Jip’s friendship with Put so far? How do they help or understand each other?
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Chapter 11
Which adult in the story seems helpful, harmful, or hard to understand in this chapter? Use details from the chapter to explain your thinking.
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Chapter 12
What secret, mystery, or unanswered question seems important in the story right now, and what do you predict might happen next?
Example answer: The biggest mystery for me is about Jip’s past and where he really came from. He does not know everything about himself, and that makes the story feel tense. I predict that someone may know more about Jip than they are saying. I think learning the truth could change how Jip sees himself.
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Chapter 13
How does Jip respond when he is afraid or unsure? What does his response teach you about courage?
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Chapter 14
What does this chapter suggest about the meaning of freedom? Think about Jip’s life, choices, and hopes.
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Chapter 15
Pick a scene from this chapter that helped you picture the place, the people, or the mood. What details made it vivid?
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Chapter 16
How are kindness and cruelty both shown in this chapter? What effect do they have on Jip or others?
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Chapter 17
What does Jip seem to understand now that he may not have understood earlier in the book?
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Chapter 18
If you could give Jip advice at this point in the story, what would you tell him, and why?
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Chapter 19
What theme or lesson is becoming clear near the end of the book? Use an example from what you have read so far.
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Chapter 20
Looking back over the whole story, how has Jip changed, and what do you think Katherine Paterson wanted readers to remember?
Example answer: Jip changes because he learns more about who he is and what kind of person he wants to be. Even when life is unfair, he keeps showing kindness and courage. I think Katherine Paterson wanted readers to remember that every person deserves freedom, respect, and a place to belong. Jip’s story made me think about how brave someone can be even when they feel alone.
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How to use this Jip, His Story reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 20 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Jip, His Story. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Questions about this story, good after any chapter. We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.
Browse: All books by Katherine Paterson