Walk Two Moons Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal

Walk Two Moons 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 44 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.

1. Chapter 1

   In Chapter 1, Sal leaves Bybanks for Euclid and begins to notice Phoebe. What do you learn about Sal's old home and her new home, and how does she feel about the change?

2. Chapter 2

   In Chapter 2, Sal starts telling Phoebe's story while traveling with Gram and Gramps. Why do you think Sal chooses this story to tell on the long trip?

3. Chapter 3

   In Chapter 3, Sal thinks about bravery. What does this chapter show about what it means to be brave, even when someone feels scared or unsure?

4. Chapter 4

   In Chapter 4, Sal says she is telling us the story a certain way. How does Sal's way of telling the story make you curious about what will happen next?

5. Chapter 5

   In Chapter 5, Phoebe acts like a damsel in distress. What do her actions and words show about her imagination and the way she sees danger?

6. Chapter 6

   In Chapter 6, blackberries bring back an important memory for Sal. Why do you think a simple taste or smell can make a memory feel so strong?

7. Chapter 7

   In Chapter 7, Sal travels through new places with Gram and Gramps. How does the road trip help Sal think about both the past and the present?

8. Chapter 8

   In Chapter 8, Phoebe calls a stranger a lunatic. What clues does Phoebe notice, and do you think she is being careful, unfair, or both?

9. Chapter 9

   The first mysterious message tells Phoebe not to judge a man until she has walked two moons in his moccasins. What do you think this message means, and how might it connect to Sal or Phoebe?

   Example answer: I think the message means you should try to understand someone before you decide what kind of person they are. Phoebe often makes quick guesses about people, like calling the stranger dangerous. Sal also has to learn more about people such as Mrs. Cadaver before judging them. The message reminds me that everyone has a story we might not know yet.

10. Chapter 10

    In Chapter 10, Gram and Gramps add humor and energy to the story. How do they make the trip different for Sal?

11. Chapter 11

    In Chapter 11, Sal flinches when people talk about her mother. What does this reaction help you understand about Sal's feelings?

12. Chapter 12

    In Chapter 12, Sal tells about the marriage bed. What does this story show about Gram and Gramps and the love in their family?

13. Chapter 13

    In Chapter 13, Mr. Birkway is an unusual teacher who cares about journals and stories. How would you feel about having a teacher like him, and why?

14. Chapter 14

    In Chapter 14, Phoebe becomes very suspicious of Mrs. Cadaver. What does Phoebe's reaction show about her personality and her fears?

15. Chapter 15

    In Chapter 15, a snake causes a scary moment. How do the characters respond, and what does this scene show about courage or quick thinking?

16. Chapter 16

    In Chapter 16, the singing tree is connected to Sal's memories. What do you think the tree means to Sal?

17. Chapter 17

    In Chapter 17, another message says that in the course of a lifetime, what does it matter. What do you think this message is asking the characters to think about?

18. Chapter 18

    In Chapter 18, Sal thinks about her father as a good man. Why might Sal love her father but still have complicated feelings about some of his choices?

19. Chapter 19

    In Chapter 19, Ben uses the image of fish in the air. What do you think this strange image could mean, and how does it fit the mood of the story?

20. Chapter 20

    In Chapter 20, Sal remembers a blackberry kiss. What does this memory show about her parents and the kind of family life she misses?

21. Chapter 21

    In Chapter 21, Sal and Phoebe talk about souls. How are their ideas alike or different, and what do their thoughts show about them?

22. Chapter 22

    In Chapter 22, Phoebe gathers evidence for her mystery. What evidence does she collect, and why might it not prove what she thinks it proves?

    Example answer: Phoebe collects clues like the strange messages, the young man's visit, and things she notices about Mrs. Cadaver. I think she wants the clues to fit her scary theory, so she may not be seeing them clearly. Evidence can be helpful, but it can also be misunderstood. Phoebe needs to ask more questions before deciding what is true.

23. Chapter 23

    In Chapter 23, Sal sees the Badlands. How does this setting match or change the feelings in the story at this point?

24. Chapter 24

    In Chapter 24, Mrs. Winterbottom is gone, and her family reacts in different ways. What do their reactions show about what they expected from her?

25. Chapter 25

    In Chapter 25, the Winterbottom family focuses on ordinary things like cholesterol even during a crisis. Why do you think people sometimes talk about small things when they are upset?

26. Chapter 26

    In Chapter 26, the chapter title is about sacrifices. What is one sacrifice a character makes or might have made, and why is it important?

27. Chapter 27

    In Chapter 27, Mr. Birkway reads from students' journals. Do you think this was fair or unfair, and what problems does it cause?

28. Chapter 28

    In Chapter 28, Gram and Gramps keep traveling through beautiful and difficult places. What do you learn about their relationship from the way they handle the trip?

29. Chapter 29

    In Chapter 29, a poem about the tide is important to Sal. How can a poem help a character understand feelings that are hard to say out loud?

30. Chapter 30

    In Chapter 30, Sal and Phoebe break into Mrs. Cadaver's house. What are they hoping to find, and what does this choice show about their judgment?

31. Chapter 31

    In Chapter 31, a photograph gives Sal new information. How does this photograph change what Sal thinks or wonders about Mrs. Cadaver?

32. Chapter 32

    In Chapter 32, kisses and memories are connected to chickens and blackberries. How do these memories help Sal understand love, loss, or family?

33. Chapter 33

    In Chapter 33, a visitor gives Sal and Phoebe more information. How does this new information change the way they think about Mrs. Cadaver or the Winterbottom mystery?

34. Chapter 34

    In Chapter 34, the travelers visit Old Faithful. How might seeing something powerful and steady in nature affect Sal during this part of her journey?

35. Chapter 35

    In Chapter 35, Sal makes an important plan. Why does this plan matter so much to her, and what risks does it bring?

36. Chapter 36

    During the visit in Chapter 36, Phoebe learns a surprising truth about her mother and Mike. How does this truth change the mystery?

37. Chapter 37

    In Chapter 37, a kiss surprises Sal. How does Sal react, and what does her reaction show about her feelings toward Ben?

38. Chapter 38

    In Chapter 38, the Winterbottom family must listen to a difficult explanation. What helps or hurts their ability to understand one another?

39. Chapter 39

    In Chapter 39, Mrs. Winterbottom returns home. How is she different from the person her family thought she was, and why does that matter?

40. Chapter 40

    In Chapter 40, gifts are important. What is one gift in this chapter, and why does it mean more than just the object itself?

41. Chapter 41

    In Chapter 41, Sal reaches an overlook. What is she trying to face, and why is this moment so important for her?

42. Chapter 42

    In Chapter 42, Sal learns more about the bus and the willow. What truth does she have to accept, and how does this truth change her?

43. Chapter 43

    In Chapter 43, Sal and Gramps deal with another deep sadness. How do they show love for Gram and for each other?

44. Chapter 44

    By the end of Chapter 44, how has Sal changed since the beginning of the book? What does the title Walk Two Moons mean to you now?

    Example answer: By the end, I think Sal understands her mother, her father, and even Phoebe better than she did before. She has faced some very sad truths, but she is also stronger and more honest with herself. The title means that you should try to see life from another person's point of view. Sal learns that doing this can help people forgive and heal.