Simon Sort of Says Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
Simon Sort of Says has 43 chapters · Grades 5–7 · 365 pages
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Inside the journal: 43 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.
What important problem or choice is Simon facing so far, and why does it matter to him?See all 43 questions ↓
A printable reading journal for Simon Sort of Says: one question per chapter, with example answers.
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Simon Sort of Says 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 43 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
What important problem or choice is Simon facing so far, and why does it matter to him?
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Chapter 2
How does living in Grin and Bear It, inside a radio-quiet zone, affect Simon in this chapter?
Example answer: In this chapter, the radio-quiet zone makes Simon’s life feel very different from a normal town. I think it gives him some space because people cannot connect and spread information in the usual way. At the same time, it can make ordinary things harder and stranger. The setting is important because Simon is trying to figure out who he is when the outside world is quieter.
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Chapter 3
Which detail about Simon’s past seems most important right now, and how does it shape the way you understand him?
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Chapter 4
What does this chapter show about how Simon wants other people to see him?
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Chapter 5
How is Agate helping, challenging, or surprising Simon so far?
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Chapter 6
What role does Kevin play in Simon’s life in this part of the story?
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Chapter 7
Choose one funny moment or odd detail from the chapter. How does it change the mood of the story?
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Chapter 8
What question would you ask Simon if you could talk to him after this chapter, and why?
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Chapter 9
Which adult seems to understand Simon best so far? Use evidence from what that adult says or does.
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Chapter 10
What is Simon trying not to say, think about, or be known for in this part of the book?
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Chapter 11
How does the author use the unusual town setting to create problems, humor, or comfort?
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Chapter 12
Pick a word or phrase that stood out to you in this chapter. What do you think it means, and why did it catch your attention?
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Chapter 13
What does Simon’s narration reveal about his feelings that he might not say out loud to other characters?
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Chapter 14
What prediction can you make about Simon’s attempt to have a more normal life? What clues support your idea?
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Chapter 15
In this chapter, where do you notice grief, fear, or healing? Explain the moment and why it matters.
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Chapter 16
How do rules about phones, radio signals, or technology shape what can happen in this part of the story?
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Chapter 17
What do Simon’s choices in this chapter tell you about courage?
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Chapter 18
How does humor sit beside serious feelings in this chapter? Give one example of each if you can.
Example answer: The humor in this chapter keeps the story from feeling too heavy all the time. I noticed that Simon can describe strange or awkward things in a funny way, even when he is dealing with painful memories. The serious feeling is still there underneath the jokes. To me, that makes Simon feel real, because people sometimes use humor when they are scared or sad.
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Chapter 19
What do you think Agate wants or needs at this point in the story? What makes you think so?
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Chapter 20
What does Kevin seem to value, based on his actions or words so far?
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Chapter 21
Describe a moment when Simon feels noticed, watched, or hidden. What does that moment reveal about him?
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Chapter 22
What conflict appears most important in this chapter: a conflict inside Simon, between characters, or with the community? Explain your choice.
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Chapter 23
How does Simon’s relationship with his parents seem right now? What details show closeness, worry, or misunderstanding?
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Chapter 24
What is one thing this chapter suggests about friendship? Use Simon, Agate, Kevin, or another character in your answer.
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Chapter 25
If you could give Simon advice at the end of this chapter, what would you tell him and why?
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Chapter 26
What new information in this chapter changed your understanding of a character or situation?
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Chapter 27
Which scene from this chapter would be most important to include in a movie version? Explain what viewers would learn from it.
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Chapter 28
How does the book show that people can be kind and still make mistakes?
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Chapter 29
What does silence mean in this chapter: safety, loneliness, peace, secrecy, or something else? Explain your thinking.
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Chapter 30
What symbol, object, animal, or place seems meaningful in this chapter, and what might it represent?
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Chapter 31
How does Simon’s voice as narrator affect the way you understand events?
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Chapter 32
What do you wonder about Grin and Bear It and its community after reading this chapter?
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Chapter 33
Which character had the strongest emotion in this chapter, and how could you tell?
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Chapter 34
What seems unfair to Simon in this part of the story? How does he respond to that unfairness?
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Chapter 35
How might Simon’s past influence the way he reacts to people in this chapter?
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Chapter 36
Find a moment when a character tries to control a situation. Why do you think that character wants control?
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Chapter 37
What does this chapter make you think about privacy and the right to tell your own story?
Example answer: This chapter made me think that privacy is not just about hiding something. For Simon, it is also about being allowed to decide what parts of his life belong to him. I can understand why he would not want everyone to define him by one terrible thing that happened. The book shows that telling someone’s story without permission can hurt, even if people are curious or think they mean well.
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Chapter 38
How has your opinion of Simon changed since the beginning of the book? What caused that change?
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Chapter 39
What lesson might Simon or another character be starting to learn in this chapter?
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Chapter 40
Compare two characters’ ways of handling stress. How are their reactions alike or different?
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Chapter 41
What part of the chapter felt realistic to you, even if the setting or situation was unusual?
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Chapter 42
What do you think will matter most in the next chapter: a relationship, a secret, a plan, or a problem? Explain your prediction.
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Chapter 43
After this chapter, what is one unfinished question you have about Simon, his friends, or the town? Why do you want to know the answer?
Discussion questions for after Simon Sort of Says
Bigger questions for when the book is finished, each printed on its own ruled page at the end of the booklet.
- Across the whole novel, how does Simon’s understanding of himself change? Write about how his past, his move to Grin and Bear It, and his relationships with characters such as Agate and Kevin affect the way he sees himself.
- What do you think Simon Sort of Says is really about beneath the funny situations and unusual setting? Explain what the book suggests about trauma, friendship, privacy, healing, and being seen for who you are.
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How to use this Simon Sort of Says 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, 43 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Simon Sort of Says. 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.
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