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CHAPTER 10: HAUNTED BY DOUBTS
EALRS
Reading:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2
Writing:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5
Communication:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
Pre-reading Questions:
1. What doubts might Ben or the Brennans be having?
2. Look up the following words in order to better understand the chapter: firebug, confrontation, tormented and banish.
3. What happened in chapter nine that is probably on Ben’s mind?
Post-reading Questions:
1. Of what is Ben afraid?
2. How does Mr. Brennan try to make Ben feel more comfortable?
3. In this chapter Ben calls to Mr. Brennan but then cannot ask him what he wants. Ben says to himself that he “just wanted.”
What does it mean to just “want”? Have you ever “just wanted” but could not find the words to describe what you
wanted? How did you figure it out?
4. Who is Gogo?
5. What big event are the Brennans planning for? Why do you think it is so important to them?
6. At some point in the chapter Ben asks Mr. Brennan about the fire set by Joe Pastore. Why do you think Ben wants to
talk to Mr. Brennan about it?
7. How does Mr. Brennan respond to the question? Why do you think he responds that way?
8. At the end of the chapter, Ben is wondering if the Brennan’s niceness is just an act. What do you think?
Activities:
1. Ben is trying to trust the Brennans and it appears as if Rachel is trying to trust Ben. Consider who you trust and do not trust.
How do you know who you can trust? Discuss this with your classmates and come up with some guidelines for building and
maintaining trust with each other.
2. Newspaper readers trust reporters to be fair and objective. But how do you know that what you read is “fair and
objective”? As readers we need to read the newspaper critically, it’s our responsibility, it also builds our trust with
the newspaper. Select an opinion article to read (located in the editorial section); while reading it underline
any sentences that you feel are interesting or important. Next, circle any sentences, names or words about
which you have questions. Then, rate the editorial. Did the author provide good reasons for his/her opinion?
Did s/he give enough information? Do you trust the author’s opinion? Why or why not? How could the author
develop trust with the reader through writing?
CHAPTER 11: EVENING UP THE SCORE
EALRS
Reading:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2
Writing:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5
Communication:
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
Pre-reading Questions:
1. How would you describe the story so far?
2. What would you do in Ben’s case?
3. Would you ever open up your house to someone like Ben?
4. Define the following words: solitary, condensation, loafing, ricocheted, paralysis.
