The absent author Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
4.6 out of 5, (10 ratings on Open Library)
The absent author has 10 chapters · 86 pages
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Inside the journal: 10 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, what important problem are Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose trying to understand in Green Lawn? Use details from this chapter to explain what makes the problem feel like a mystery.See all 10 questions ↓
About the book
A is for author.... Dink writes to his favorite author, mystery writer Wallis Wallace, and invites him to visit Green Lawn. To Dink's amazement, Wallace says he'll come! But when the big day arrives, Wallace is nowhere to be found. The police think he just missed his plane, but Dink suspects foul play. It's up to Dink and his two best friends, Josh and Ruth Rose, to find the famous writer--before it's too late! From the Trade Paperback edition.
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The absent author 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 10 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
So far, what important problem are Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose trying to understand in Green Lawn? Use details from this chapter to explain what makes the problem feel like a mystery.
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Chapter 2
What have you learned so far about Dink as a friend and a detective? Describe one choice he makes or one thing he says that shows his personality.
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Chapter 3
Josh and Ruth Rose help Dink investigate the mystery of Wallis Wallace. How does teamwork help the kids in this chapter, and what does each friend add to the group?
Example answer: Teamwork helps because the mystery is too big for just one person to solve. Dink is good at staying focused on the problem, while Josh notices funny or strange details. Ruth Rose asks smart questions and helps the group think carefully. Together, they can compare ideas and not miss as much.
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Chapter 4
Choose an interesting or tricky word from this chapter. What do you think it means, and what clues in the sentence or scene helped you figure it out?
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Chapter 5
What clue, detail, or suspicious moment stood out to you most in this chapter? Explain why you think it might be important later.
Example answer: A detail that stood out to me was when something did not seem to match what the characters expected about Wallis Wallace. It felt suspicious because mysteries usually have small clues that become important later. I think the kids will need to remember that moment when they put the clues together. It made me want to keep reading to see if my guess is right.
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Chapter 6
So far, how does the setting of Green Lawn affect the story? Describe one place the characters visit or talk about and how it helps move the mystery forward.
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Chapter 7
What prediction can you make about Wallis Wallace or the mystery at this point in the book? Give at least two reasons from the story to support your prediction.
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Chapter 8
How do the characters show curiosity, courage, or careful thinking in this chapter? Pick one character and explain what that character does.
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Chapter 9
What is one question you still have after reading this chapter? Explain why that question matters to the mystery.
Example answer: One question I still have is why Wallis Wallace has not appeared the way everyone expected. This matters because the whole mystery is about figuring out what happened to the author. If the kids can answer that question, they will probably get much closer to solving the case. It also makes the story more exciting because I do not know who to trust yet.
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Chapter 10
Think about the chapter you just finished. What part did you enjoy, find surprising, or find confusing, and why?
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How to use this The absent author 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, 10 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for The absent author. 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.