Save Me a Seat

The questions inside

One per chapter, across all 49 chapters — every question is editable before you print.

1. At the start of the story, what problem or worry does the narrator seem to have, and what details help you know?
2. How does the school setting feel to Joe in this chapter? Describe one thing that makes school hard or uncomfortable for him.
3. Ravi has ideas about how his first day will go. What does he expect, and how are his expectations already starting to change?
4. What do you learn about Joe's relationship with his mom? How does having her at school affect him?
5. Choose one word or phrase from this chapter that shows Ravi's feelings. What does it mean, and why is it important?
6. Why do you think Joe notices Dillon so much? What does Dillon do that affects Joe?
7. How does Ravi misunderstand something in this chapter? What clues show that he is still learning how things work at his new school?
8. What does this chapter show about Joe's auditory processing challenges? How do they affect his day?
9. What opinion do you have of Ravi so far? Use evidence from the chapter to explain your thinking.
10. What does Joe want other students to understand about him? How might that change the way they treat him?
11. How does Ravi's family background shape the way he acts at school? Give one example from this chapter.
12. What prediction can you make about Joe and Ravi after this chapter? What makes you think that?
13. How does Dillon make himself look friendly or important? Why might that be confusing for Ravi?
14. What is one small moment in this chapter that shows Joe is paying close attention to people around him?
15. Ravi compares his old school life with his new school life. What is different, and how does that make him feel?
16. What does Joe do when he feels embarrassed or overwhelmed? Do you think his response helps him? Why or why not?
17. What lesson about making assumptions can readers learn from Ravi in this chapter?
18. How does the author help you understand Joe's point of view in this chapter?
19. Pick an unfamiliar or interesting word from this chapter. What do you think it means, and how did the sentence help you?
20. What conflict is growing in the story by this point? Explain who is involved and what each person wants.
21. How does Ravi react when things do not go the way he planned? What does that show about his character?
22. Why is lunch an important time in the story? What do you learn about friendships or belonging during lunch?
23. How does Joe's view of Ravi begin to change, or stay the same, in this chapter?
24. What do you think Ravi needs most right now: a friend, help understanding school, or a chance to prove himself? Explain.
25. What does Dillon's behavior teach you about bullying that is not always easy for adults to notice?
26. How does Joe show courage in this chapter, even if it is a quiet kind of courage?
27. What mistake does Ravi make because he trusts the wrong person? How could he have handled it differently?
28. What connection can you make between Joe's feelings and a time you or someone you know felt left out?
29. How does the chapter build suspense or make you wonder what will happen next?
30. What does Ravi learn about being smart in a new place? How is school success different from just knowing answers?
31. How do Joe's classmates or teachers respond to him in this chapter? What seems helpful or unhelpful?
32. What theme, or big message, is starting to appear in the story? Use one event from this chapter to support your idea.
33. How does Ravi's opinion of Dillon begin to shift? What evidence makes him question what he thought before?
34. What does Joe understand about Dillon that Ravi has not fully understood yet?
35. If you could give Ravi advice at this moment in the story, what would you tell him and why?
36. How does teamwork start to become possible for Joe and Ravi in this chapter?
37. What is one important choice a character makes in this chapter? What might happen because of that choice?
38. How does the author show that Joe and Ravi are more alike than they first seemed?
39. What does the word 'seat' or the idea of saving a seat mean in this part of the story?
40. What prediction can you make about how the problem with Dillon might be solved? Use clues from the chapter.
41. How does Ravi show growth in this chapter compared with the beginning of the book?
42. How does Joe show growth in this chapter compared with the beginning of the book?
43. What role do adults play in this chapter? Are they helping, missing the problem, or learning something too?
44. What does this chapter show about standing up for yourself or for someone else?
45. How do Joe and Ravi use what they know about Dillon to make a plan or solve a problem?
46. What feelings did you have as the main conflict came closer to being resolved? What details made you feel that way?
47. What changes in the way classmates see Joe, Ravi, or Dillon? Why do those changes matter?
48. What is the most important lesson a character learns near the end of the book? Explain with an example.
49. After finishing the book, what do you think the title Save Me a Seat means? How does it connect to friendship and belonging?

Example answers

Printed at the front of the booklet, so your reader can see what a strong answer looks like.

How does Ravi misunderstand something in this chapter? What clues show that he is still learning how things work at his new school?

I think Ravi misunderstands Dillon because he thinks Dillon is being friendly and helpful. The clues show that Ravi is still learning the rules of his new school and does not know which students are trustworthy yet. Ravi is used to being confident at school, so he does not expect someone to trick him. This makes me feel worried for him because readers can see more than he can.

Why is lunch an important time in the story? What do you learn about friendships or belonging during lunch?

Lunch is important because it shows who feels included and who feels left out. At lunch, students choose where to sit, and that can make someone feel wanted or unwanted. I learn that friendship is not only about talking in class; it is also about making space for someone. Saving a seat can be a small action that means a lot.

How does Ravi show growth in this chapter compared with the beginning of the book?

Ravi shows growth because he is starting to understand people better instead of judging everything too quickly. At the beginning, he expected school to be easy for him and thought he knew who his friends were. Now he pays more attention to actions, not just words. I think this shows he is becoming more humble and more careful.