Something Upstairs Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
65 readers
Something Upstairs has 9 chapters · 128 pages
Free, no sign-up. Customise to reword questions or add your reader’s name.
Inside the journal: 9 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, how does Kenny seem to feel about moving into the old house in Providence? What clues from the chapter show his feelings?See all 9 questions ↓
About the book
When he moves from Los Angeles to Providence, Rhode Island, Kenny discovers that his new house is haunted by the spirit of a black slave boy who asks Kenny to return with him to the early nineteenth century and prevent his murder by slave traders.
Buy the book on Amazon ↗ (affiliate link)
Something Upstairs 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 9 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.
-
Chapter 1
So far, how does Kenny seem to feel about moving into the old house in Providence? What clues from the chapter show his feelings?
Example answer: I think Kenny feels unsure but also curious. The old house in Providence seems different from a regular house, so I can understand why he might feel nervous. At the same time, he pays attention to the strange details around him, which shows he wants to know more. If I were Kenny, I would probably feel excited and worried at the same time.
-
Chapter 2
What new questions do you have about Caleb, the house, or the strange things happening so far? Explain why those questions matter to the story.
-
Chapter 3
Choose one decision Kenny makes in this chapter. What does that decision show about his personality?
-
Chapter 4
How does Avi create a spooky or mysterious mood in this chapter? Describe two details that help build that feeling.
-
Chapter 5
So far, what do Kenny and Caleb seem to want from each other? How are their goals alike or different?
Example answer: So far, I think Kenny wants to understand what is happening and why Caleb is connected to the house. Caleb seems to want Kenny to listen and help him in some way. Their goals are alike because they both need answers. They are different because Kenny is living in the present, while Caleb is tied to the past.
-
Chapter 6
Pick a word or phrase from this chapter that helps you understand the setting, time period, or mood. What do you think it means, and how does it help the story?
-
Chapter 7
What unfairness or question about justice appears in the story so far? How do Kenny’s experiences make you think about right and wrong?
-
Chapter 8
Based on what you know now, what do you predict Kenny will do next about Caleb and the mystery of the house? Use evidence from the story to support your prediction.
-
Chapter 9
Looking back at the whole book, how has Kenny changed because of what he learned about Caleb, Providence, and the past? What lesson do you think Avi wants readers to remember?
Example answer: I think Kenny changes because he learns that the past is not just something in history books. It can affect real people and real places, including the house where he lives. He becomes braver and more thoughtful as he learns about Caleb’s story. I think Avi wants readers to remember that truth and justice matter, even when something happened long ago.
More by Avi
All 3 →
More ready-made journals
-
The Lightning Thief
-
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
-
The Lions' Run
-
The Long Haul
-
The Lost Heir
-
The Lost Hero
How to use this Something Upstairs 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, 9 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Something Upstairs. 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 Avi