Wonderstruck

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Part 1

Reading Check

1. Why does Robby throw a shoe at Ben?

2. What does Steve want to do with Ben’s old house?

3. How did Ben’s mother die?

4. What celebrity is Rose fascinated with?

5. What does Rose’s note say?

6. What is Ben’s mother’s favorite song?

7. Who does Ben find in his old house?

8. What is the name of the book Ben finds in one of the drawers of his old house?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Ben cry when he sees Janet in his old home?

2. What does Ben conclude about the note he finds in Wonderstruck addressed to his mother?

Paired Resource

David Bowie Space Oddity Lyrics

• Lyric video for the 1969 David Bowie song "Space Oddity"  
• What is “Space Oddity” about? Who is Major Tom in the song? What does Ben mean when he says his father isn’t Major Tom, lost forever in the stars? How is David Bowie’s song related to the novel’s themes of The Quest to Belong and Collection and Curation?

Part 2, Pages 226-357

Reading Check

1. Where does Ben take a bus to?

2. Who does Rose go to see in New York City?

3. Who is Lillian Mayhew to Rose?

4. Where does Ben decide to go when he realizes his father no longer lives at the address on the bookmark?

5. What does the curly-haired boy hand Ben after he runs from him?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Ben especially confused as he is traveling in New York City?

2. Compare Ben’s reaction to the meteorite to Rose’s reaction. How are their reactions similar?

Paired Resource

Ahnighito Meteorite Exhibit

• This article describes The Ahnighito Meteorite Exhibit in the Hall of Meteorites at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
• Where was the meteorite discovered? What was the name of the original meteorite? How big was the meteorite before it broke apart in the atmosphere? How is this article related to the novel’s themes of The Quest to Belong and Collection and Curation?

Part 2, Pages 358-489

Reading Check

1. What creature does Ben see at the Gunflint Lake diorama in the Museum of Natural History in New York?

2. What does Ben realize he has lost while in the museum?

3. What is the name of the curly-haired boy?

4. Who is the man who reaches for Rose’s shoulder?

5. What is the name of the man who does research on Gunflint Lake?

6. How is Walter related to Rose?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the shared feeling between Ben and Jamie?

2. Why does Ben become upset with Jamie?

Paired Resource

Updating the Wolf Diorama

• This 4-minute video describes the renovation of the wolf diorama in the Hall of the North American Mammals at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
• How is the wolf exhibit at the museum being updated? What can be seen in the wolf diorama? How is this video related to the novel’s themes of Sound and Silence and Collection and Curation? 

“Why Do We Collect Things?”

• This article describes collections and why people have them.
• How long have people been collecting things? Why do people collect? How do collections connect people? What is Ben’s reason for his museum box? How is this article related to the novel’s themes of the Quest to Belong and Collection and Curation?

Part 3

Reading Check

1. What is the only creature in the shop when Ben arrives at Kincaid’s?

2. What language do the man and woman who walk into the bookshop communicate in?

3. What does Ben have that causes him to be recognized by the old woman?

4. Who gave Danny Wonderstruck?

5. Where does Rose take Ben?

6. What did Rose create in the museum?

7. How is Rose related to Ben?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What happened to Rose after she found Walter?

2. How did Danny meet Elaine?

Paired Resource

Queens Museum of Art Panorama

• This article describes the Panorama of the City of New York at the Queens Museum of Art.
• Why was the panorama built? What did Lester use as a reference to create the model? What is the scale of the model? What are the buildings made of? What was the cost of the panorama? How does the panorama generate funds for updates? Based on the discussion in the article, how does the panorama relate to the novel’s themes of The Quest to Belong and Collection and Curation?

Recommended Next Reads

El Deafo by Cece Bell

• This graphic novel is about a young girl who loses her hearing and develops a fictional character to help her cope with her differences.
• Shared topics include deafness, belonging, and friendship.
• Shared themes include Sound and Silence and The Quest to Belong.
• El Deafo on SuperSummary

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

• This graphic novel is about an 11-year-old girl who loses her two front teeth in an accident and struggles with insecurity.
• Shared topics include coping with differences, belonging, and relationships.
• Shared themes include The Quest to Belong.
• Smile on SuperSummary