Rez Dogs Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal

Rez Dogs 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 32 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.

1. Chapter 1

   How would you explain Malian’s situation to someone who has not read Rez Dogs? Use details you have learned so far.

2. Chapter 2

   What have you learned about the reservation where Malian is staying, and how does this setting matter to the story?

3. Chapter 3

   Which detail so far best helps you understand Malian’s feelings about being away from her parents? Explain your choice.

4. Chapter 4

   What do you think Malian will need most as the pandemic continues? Use something you have read to support your prediction.

5. Chapter 5

   How would you describe Malian’s grandparents based on what you know so far? Explain what helped you form that opinion.

6. Chapter 6

   What can Malian’s situation teach readers about handling a change they did not choose?

   Example answer: I think Malian’s situation shows that an unwanted change can bring many different feelings. The pandemic keeps her at her grandparents’ home instead of letting her return to her parents. I would find that hard, even if I loved being with my grandparents. Her situation makes me think that accepting help from family can matter when life changes.

7. Chapter 7

   Choose an interesting word from your reading. What clues help you understand it, and how does it help tell Malian’s story?

8. Chapter 8

   What questions do you have about the dog in Rez Dogs? Explain which details made you curious.

9. Chapter 9

   In what ways does Malian’s life seem similar to or different from your own? Explain one important connection.

10. Chapter 10

    Which detail about Malian’s family seems most important to remember? Explain why it could matter.

11. Chapter 11

    What might Malian learn from spending more time with her grandparents? Base your prediction on what you know about them.

12. Chapter 12

    Where do you notice care or kindness in the story so far? Explain what it shows about a character.

13. Chapter 13

    How does knowing that the story takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic help you understand Malian’s choices or feelings?

14. Chapter 14

    Pick a short phrase that creates a strong picture in your mind. What do you picture, and what does it help you understand?

15. Chapter 15

    What does the story suggest so far about why grandparents and other elders matter in a family or community?

    Example answer: I think elders matter because they connect younger people to family experiences and knowledge. Malian’s grandparents help her learn about her Wabanaki heritage. Their knowledge gives her something she could not get just by being on her own. This makes me think listening to elders is one way to understand where we come from.

16. Chapter 16

    Which part of Malian’s situation would be hardest for you? Explain your thinking using a detail from the book.

17. Chapter 17

    What have you learned so far about Malian’s Wabanaki family or community? Explain how the author helped you learn it.

18. Chapter 18

    How might the reservation setting shape what happens next? Support your idea with a detail from your reading.

19. Chapter 19

    What strength do you notice in Malian so far? Describe something in the text that points to that strength.

20. Chapter 20

    Choose a word that describes the mood of your latest reading. Which details make that word a good fit?

21. Chapter 21

    What does belonging seem to mean in Rez Dogs so far? Think about Malian’s connections to family, community, or place.

22. Chapter 22

    Which part of the story would you most like to discuss with Malian? Explain what you would ask her and why.

23. Chapter 23

    How does Joseph Bruchac help you understand a character without simply telling you what that character is like?

24. Chapter 24

    What role does the dog seem to have in the story so far? Explain your thinking without guessing beyond what you have read.

25. Chapter 25

    If Malian faced another unexpected change, how do you think she might respond? Use what you know about her to explain.

26. Chapter 26

    Find a word or phrase connected to family, home, or community. What does it mean in its sentence, and why does it stand out?

27. Chapter 27

    What does Rez Dogs suggest so far about the ways people and animals can help one another?

    Example answer: I think the story suggests that help does not always come through words. The dog offers Malian companionship while the pandemic keeps her away from her parents. I see that companionship as important because being apart from family can feel lonely. Their connection makes me think caring about an animal can also help a person feel less alone.

28. Chapter 28

    How has your understanding of Malian’s grandparents grown since you began reading? Point to a detail that added to your understanding.

29. Chapter 29

    Which detail from your latest reading adds something new to your understanding of Malian’s world? Explain what it adds.

30. Chapter 30

    What do you hope Malian comes to understand about herself or her family? Explain how the story so far led you to that hope.

31. Chapter 31

    Why do you think Rez Dogs is a fitting title at this point in your reading? Connect your answer to what you know so far.

32. Chapter 32

    What idea from your reading would you like to carry into your own life? Explain how it connects to Malian’s story.