Spy School Blackout Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
Spy School Blackout has 45 chapters · Grades 3–5
Book 13 of the Spy School series
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Inside the journal: 45 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Open-ended Thought-provoking questions for any chapter book.
After Chapter 1, what do you learn about Ben Ripley’s situation so far, and what questions do you have about the trouble he may face?See all 45 questions ↓
A printable reading journal for Spy School Blackout: one question per chapter, with example answers.
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Spy School Blackout questions by chapter
We don’t know this book well enough to ask about its story, so these are open-ended prompts that get a reader thinking about the chapter they just finished: what happened, who changed, what they would do. One question per chapter, across all 45 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
After Chapter 1, what do you learn about Ben Ripley’s situation so far, and what questions do you have about the trouble he may face?
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Chapter 2
After Chapter 2, how would you describe Ben’s personality based on his thoughts, choices, or reactions in this chapter?
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Chapter 3
After Chapter 3, what is one clue, surprise, or problem that seems important, and why do you think it matters?
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Chapter 4
After Chapter 4, how does Erica Hale affect the story so far, and what makes her different from Ben?
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Chapter 5
After Chapter 5, what setting details help you picture the spy world Ben is part of, such as the school, training, or mission locations?
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Chapter 6
After Chapter 6, choose one new or interesting word from this chapter. What do you think it means, and how did the sentence help you understand it?
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Chapter 7
After Chapter 7, what does this chapter show about trust between Ben, Erica, and the other people around them?
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Chapter 8
After Chapter 8, what prediction can you make about the next challenge Ben will face, and what evidence from the chapter supports it?
Example answer: I predict that Ben will have to use both his brain and his courage in the next challenge. He often is not the strongest or most trained person, but he notices details other people miss. The chapter made me think the problem is not completely solved yet. I think Ben will need help from Erica, but he will also have to make a choice on his own.
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Chapter 9
After Chapter 9, how does the author mix danger with humor in this chapter? Give an example of each.
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Chapter 10
After Chapter 10, what decision did a character make that stood out to you, and do you agree with it? Explain your thinking.
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Chapter 11
After Chapter 11, what does Ben seem to know for sure, and what is still confusing or mysterious to him?
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Chapter 12
After Chapter 12, how does teamwork help or hurt the characters in this chapter?
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Chapter 13
After Chapter 13, what is one moment when a character has to be brave, careful, or clever? Describe what that moment reveals about them.
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Chapter 14
After Chapter 14, how does Stuart Gibbs build suspense in this chapter through timing, danger, secrets, or unanswered questions?
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Chapter 15
After Chapter 15, what role does communication play in the chapter? Think about what characters say, hide, misunderstand, or figure out.
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Chapter 16
After Chapter 16, how is Ben’s spy training useful so far, and where does he still seem to need help?
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Chapter 17
After Chapter 17, what do you notice about Erica’s way of solving problems compared with Ben’s way?
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Chapter 18
After Chapter 18, which character seems most reliable in this chapter, and what actions make you think so?
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Chapter 19
After Chapter 19, what is one possible theme you see developing, such as courage, loyalty, honesty, or teamwork? Use this chapter as evidence.
Example answer: One theme I see is teamwork. Ben may be smart, but he cannot handle every dangerous situation alone. Erica has different skills than he does, and that makes their team stronger. This chapter reminded me that a good spy mission depends on people trusting each other and using everyone’s strengths.
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Chapter 20
After Chapter 20, how does the chapter change what you think might happen later in the story?
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Chapter 21
After Chapter 21, what is one obstacle the characters face, and what choices do they have for dealing with it?
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Chapter 22
After Chapter 22, how do rules, orders, or adult authority affect Ben and the other young spies in this chapter?
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Chapter 23
After Chapter 23, what small detail from the chapter might turn out to be important? Explain why you noticed it.
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Chapter 24
After Chapter 24, how does the title Spy School Blackout connect to the mood, events, or problems in the story so far?
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Chapter 25
After Chapter 25, what is one thing Ben learns in this chapter, and how might it change his plan or attitude?
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Chapter 26
After Chapter 26, how do friendship and loyalty influence what the characters do in this chapter?
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Chapter 27
After Chapter 27, what is one question you would ask Ben, Erica, or another character right now, and why?
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Chapter 28
After Chapter 28, how does the chapter show the difference between looking like a good spy and actually being a good spy?
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Chapter 29
After Chapter 29, what conflict seems most important right now: a conflict between people, inside a character, or against a dangerous situation? Explain.
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Chapter 30
After Chapter 30, what is one place where the author gives you information slowly instead of all at once? How does that affect your reading?
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Chapter 31
After Chapter 31, how does Ben handle pressure in this chapter, and what does that show about how he is growing?
Example answer: Ben handles pressure by trying to think through the problem instead of giving up. He still gets nervous, which makes him feel realistic to me, but he keeps going anyway. That shows he is growing because he is learning how to act even when he is scared. I think that is part of becoming a better spy and a stronger person.
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Chapter 32
After Chapter 32, what do you think Erica values most in a mission, and what evidence from this chapter supports your idea?
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Chapter 33
After Chapter 33, pick a line, description, or action that created a strong picture in your mind. What did you imagine?
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Chapter 34
After Chapter 34, what mistake or risky choice does a character make, and what can readers learn from it?
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Chapter 35
After Chapter 35, how does the chapter show that being a spy involves more than action and gadgets?
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Chapter 36
After Chapter 36, what information would you want before making a prediction about the next chapter?
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Chapter 37
After Chapter 37, how do the characters respond when they do not have all the answers?
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Chapter 38
After Chapter 38, what is one example of cause and effect in this chapter? Describe what happened and what it led to.
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Chapter 39
After Chapter 39, which character’s point of view or feelings did you understand better after this chapter, and why?
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Chapter 40
After Chapter 40, how does this chapter raise the stakes for Ben, Erica, or the mission?
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Chapter 41
After Chapter 41, what does this chapter suggest about the difference between confidence and overconfidence?
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Chapter 42
After Chapter 42, how are the characters using what they have learned earlier in the story?
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Chapter 43
After Chapter 43, what loose ends or mysteries still need to be solved, and which one feels most important to you?
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Chapter 44
After Chapter 44, how does the author make you want to keep reading as the book gets close to the end?
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Chapter 45
After Chapter 45, what feeling are you left with after this chapter, and what part of the chapter caused that feeling?
Discussion questions for after Spy School Blackout
Bigger questions for when the book is finished, each printed on its own ruled page at the end of the booklet.
- Across Spy School Blackout, how does Ben Ripley change as a spy and as a friend? Write about the choices, challenges, and relationships that help show his growth without just listing events.
- What do you think Stuart Gibbs wants readers to understand about teamwork, trust, and courage in this book? Use examples from Ben, Erica Hale, and the spy world to explain your answer.
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How to use this Spy School Blackout 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, 45 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Spy School Blackout. 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
Thought-provoking questions for any chapter book. We don’t know this book well enough to ask about its story, so these are open-ended prompts that get a reader thinking about the chapter they just finished: what happened, who changed, what they would do. 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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