The Great Brain Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
63 readers
The Great Brain has 8 chapters · 178 pages
Part of the A Yearling book series
The Great Brain is Tom D. Fitzgerald, aged ten.
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Inside the journal: 8 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
How does J.D. introduce his brother Tom, and what details show that Tom's brain is both impressive and troublesome?See all 8 questions ↓
About the book
The Great Brain is Tom D. Fitzgerald, aged ten. The story is told by J.D., a sometimes confounded but always admiring younger brother. Such people as Mr. Standish, the mean schoolmaster, regret the day they came up against The Great Brain. But others, like the Jensen kids lost in Skeleton Cave, Basil the Greek kid, or Andy, who has lost his leg and his friends, know that Tom's great brain never fails to find a way home. - Back cover.
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The Great Brain questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 8 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
How does J.D. introduce his brother Tom, and what details show that Tom's brain is both impressive and troublesome?
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Chapter 2
Tom finds a way to turn a situation into a chance to make money. What is his plan, and how do the other children react?
Example answer: I think Tom's plan shows how quickly he can notice what people want. He sees a chance to make money because the other children are curious and willing to pay or trade. Some of the children seem impressed by him, but they also get tricked because Tom is thinking mostly about himself. This makes me feel that Tom is clever, but not always fair.
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Chapter 3
Choose one character who is fooled, helped, or challenged by Tom. What does that character learn from the experience?
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Chapter 4
Find an interesting vocabulary word in this chapter that connects to Tom's behavior. What does the word mean, and why does it fit what Tom does?
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Chapter 5
Tom's choices affect more than just himself. What do you predict will happen if he keeps using his cleverness mainly to get what he wants? Use clues from the chapter.
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Chapter 6
When does Tom use his 'great brain' in a helpful way? What does this show about the difference between being smart and being kind?
Example answer: Tom uses his great brain in a helpful way when he solves a problem that is bigger than just making money for himself. I noticed that he can understand people and figure out what needs to happen. Being smart means he can make a good plan, but being kind means he uses that plan to help someone else. This chapter made me think Tom has the power to do good if he chooses to.
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Chapter 7
How do J.D.'s feelings about Tom change as the events unfold? Give two details that show what J.D. admires or dislikes.
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Chapter 8
By the end of the book, what do you think the story is saying about cleverness, honesty, and family? Do you think Tom has changed? Why or why not?
Example answer: I think the story shows that cleverness can be good or bad depending on how a person uses it. Tom is very smart, but sometimes he hurts people's feelings or takes advantage of them. His family still cares about him, and J.D. seems to both admire him and get frustrated with him. I do not think Tom has completely changed, but I think he has moments when he understands that using his brain to help others is better than only helping himself.
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How to use this The Great Brain 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, 8 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for The Great Brain. 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
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.