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Ignite discussions with young readers and writers about writing and about life values. These Jackpine Point Adventure study/discussion guides are resources for teachers, homeschoolers, parents, grandparents and anyone who has a reason to talk books and life with young teens. Whether you teach in a public or private school, homeschool, work with a youth group or simply enjoy talking with the kids in your life, author Sandy Larsen will be interested in how you use these guides and what you think of them.
Chapter 1 "I Spend a Lot of Time in Ditches"
1. How does the author plunge the reader directly into the action?
2. By the end of p. 11, what do you know about the conflicts going on for the narrator David Malloy?
3. How are the personalities of each friend (or enemy) introduced?
4. How does the natural environment influence the story?
Chapter 2 "I Get Caught in a Dark Alley"
1. Why do tensions start to develop among the Pointers?
2. Think about David's reaction to the discovery of the trophy in his own garage. Does his reaction fit what you know of his character so far?
3. In the alley scene and candy bar scene (pp. 24-29) how does David's understanding of "feed your enemy" change and grow?
4. When Ripper shows up at Cathy's house, what does it do to the relationships among the Pointers?
Chapter 3 "A Rude & Thirsty Guest Shows Up"
1. The author uses humor to lighten a tense situation on pp. 33-37. How might this have been handled differently?
2. On p. 35 when David remembers "feed your enemy," what does he do with that advice?
3. David has growing doubts about two of his friends (pp. 39-42). How do his doubts push him toward making decisions?
4. Consider the fork in the road and the growing darkness (pp.39-42). How does the author use both to strengthen the story?
Chapter 4 "Suspicion Slowly Swells"
1. What new suspicions get planted in David's mind, and what does he do with them (pp. 49-52)?
2. How does the author increasingly show that the friendship of the Pointers is on the rocks?
3. What role does humor play in this chapter?
4. By the end of this chapter is the story still believable for you? If not, when did it stop seeming real to you, and why?
Chapter 5 "Archaeologists in the Rain"
1. Consider David's behavior during the encounter with Ripper (pp. 55-58). What does his behavior reveal about his character (both strengths and weaknesses)?
2. Why would David say he has a bad conscience (p. 59)?
3. What developments in Marmy's character do we see in her conversation with David (pp. 60- 63)?
4. At the end of this chapter what would be different if the sentence "It was a person" was missing?
Chapter 6 "The Thing Disappears . . . Again"
1. David decides to trust Brownie (p. 71). Would you like to tell David, "Yes, that's right" or "No, don't do it!" Why?
2. How does the incident of the dictionary (pp. 74-75) show us something about the state of David and Dillon's friendship?
3. What surprising combination of people does David spot in the gym, and what possible explanations can you think of?
4. What does Marmy's note (p. 76) tell you about her?
Chapter 7 "For Some Reason I Do A Rescue"
1. On pages 79-80, how does the author show the increasing suspicion in David's mind?
2. How is Dillon's personality further revealed in his plan on p. 81?
3. What new insight is David getting about "feed your enemy" (p.82)?
4. The title of this chapter is "For Some Reason I Do A Rescue." What would you say that reason was?
Chapter 8 "Phony Phone Calls"
1. How does the physical setting at the beginning of the chapter affect the story (pp. 89-90)?
2. Contrast the speed of action on pp. 92-93 with David's walk back to his house on pp. 95-97 and with his return on pp. 98-100. What do the changes of pace accomplish in the story?
3. How is a new thought--sympathy for Ripper--introduced in David's mind on p. 97?
4. What new complication is raised by the fact that Dillon's roller blades had not been stolen after all and that he had failed to tell David (p. 99)?
Chapter 9 "The Great Statue Battle"
1. Explain how each character attempts to remain in control of the situation and of the other characters.
2. How is the action affected by the arrangement of the house? (The reader was set up for this in the previous chapter on p. 92.)
3. When does unexpected humor come into this chapter? Do you think it strengthens or weakens this chapter, and why?
4. How does David's idea of the basic problem change on p. 109?
Chapter 10 "The Longest Walk of My Short Life"
1. What are the steps of David's newest understanding of "feed your enemy" (pp. 117-118)?
2. How does his new understanding push him toward a decision?
3. What do we learn about all the Pointers' characters by their actions on pp. 119-120?
4. Think of several ways David could have decided differently. In each case how would the story have come out differently?
Wrap-up questions:
By the end of the book, how has the narrator David Malloy changed on the inside?
How has he been strengthened in who he is?
Top of PageWhat Others Are Saying |
The Re-Appearing StatueContact the Author |
Ignite discussions with young readers and writers about writing and about life values. These Jackpine Point Adventure study/discussion guides are resources for teachers, homeschoolers, parents, grandparents and anyone who has a reason to talk books and life with young teens. Whether you teach in a public or private school, homeschool, work with a youth group or simply enjoy talking with the kids in your life, author Sandy Larsen will be interested in how you use these guides and what you think of them.
Chapter 1 "We Get A Sign-Up Surprise"
1. In pp. 9-12 how does the author introduce the reader to the conflict David is having with his friends?
2. Contrast the way Brownie and Cathy talk. How do their speech patterns help you see differences in their personalities?
3. When Dillon and Marmy suddenly show up in the story (pp. 14-15), what do we know about each of them right away?
4. Looking back through the entire chapter, how does the northern winter play an important part in the story?
Chapter 2 "The Marmalade Wars Begin"
1. What new questions were raised by the ending of Chapter 1?
2. On pp. 25-26 David's attention turns inward. What is his personal struggle at this point?
3. The Pointers have growing communication problems this chapter. What seems to be at the heart of their misunderstandings?
4. How does the ending of this chapter throw a new twist at David and at the reader?
Chapter 3 "I Start Doing For Others A Lot"
1. How does David interpret Marmy's message " Sabotage"?
2. What decisions is he now pushed toward having to make?
3. How does the author show that the characters are parting ways over what they want?
4. By the chapter's end, what does David want more than anything?
Chapter 4 "Our First Big Practice Day"
1. As David thinks about sabotage (pp. 44-45), what does he realize about himself, and why does that bother him?
2. What different sides of Dillon's character come out on pp.46-49?
3. The Diamond Hill "threat" turns into a false alarm (pp. 50-51). How does the author then drop in a further hint of danger?
4. At the chapter's end, what guesses can you make about why the cookie cutter is on the mailbox?
Chapter 5 "We Become Designers of Dragons"
1. Even though the friends are supposedly designing the ice dragon together, how do their words and actions on pp. 59-61 display their sharp conflicts?
2. David has an unusually quiet scene alone on pp. 61-63. What does that scene do for the story at this point?
3. Suppose this story were being told in the third person ("he," "she," "they") instead of first person ("I")? Do you think it would be stronger or weaker, and why?
4. What has designing the dragon together apparently done for the Pointers' friendship at this point?
Chapter 6 "On Spy Patrol"
1. What has pushed David to go to Diamond Hill?
2. Think about the exchange between David and Marmy on pp. 71-72. What does it reveal about their relationship?
3. While looking at the snow-covered slide (p. 73) David has a brief wish to be younger again. Does his wish feel true-to-life, or does it feel like an interruption to the story?
4. On p. 77 David thinks he is making progress in an area of his life, but Marmy misunderstands him. What do his reactions (pp. 77-78) say about his character?
Chapter 7 "I Change My Strategy"
1. On pp. 79-81 how does the author use dialogue to show the tension among the characters?
2. What is the strategy change mentioned in the chapter title?
3. Page 85 is the point at which David decides to make that change. What leads him to that decision?
4. David finds each Pointer and expresses enthusiasm for that person's favorite event (pp. 85- 88). How convincing is his enthusiasm? Would you have made him more convincing? less?
Chapter 8 "I Do A Good Deeds Marathon"
1. What chances does David have to get back at both Dillon and Cathy, even in a small way, and what does he do with those chances (pp. 92-93)?
2. How does the physical setting influence the story on pp. 96-97? Think of the road, darkness, weather, and other factors you find.
3. After building up to the Winter Fun Frolic for 7 chapters, the author spends only a few words on a description of the whole scene (p. 98). Do you think it's enough, and why or why not?
4. How do Dillon and David succeed in surprising each other at the chapter's end?
Chapter 9 "One Event After Another"
1. How would you describe the relationships of the Pointers during the Winter Fun Frolic events?
2. When the pink bike comes out of nowhere (pp. 105-106), what decision is David faced with? How does the author communicate his turmoil inside?
3. When David says "I'm sorry, Brownie" on p. 108, some far more complex thoughts have gone through his mind first. Why do you think David doesn't try to explain all that to Brownie?
4. What does Marmy reveal about herself in how she handles the Singin'-in-the-Snow contest (pp. 110-111)?
Chapter 10 "We Get An Ice Surprise"
1. Marmy makes a revelation on p. 114. What loose ends does it tie up, and what new complications does it add to the story?
2. Consider David's thoughts on p. 115. How do they show the changes within him?
3. How do the Pointers handle the ice block surprise (p. 117)? Does it seem true to what you know of them? Would it be more likely for them to all walk off? For some of them to walk off?
4. Are you satisfied with the story's ending, or not? And why?
Final questions:
By the end of the book, how has the narrator David Malloy changed on the inside?
How has he been strengthened in who he is?
Top of PageWhat Others Are Saying |
The Re-Appearing StatueContact the Author |
Ignite discussions with young readers and writers about writing and about life values. These Jackpine Point Adventure study/discussion guides are resources for teachers, homeschoolers, parents, grandparents and anyone who has a reason to talk books and life with young teens. Whether you teach in a public or private school, homeschool, work with a youth group or simply enjoy talking with the kids in your life, author Sandy Larsen will be interested in how you use these guides and what you think of them.
Chapter 1 "My Plans Change As Usual"
1. How is each character introduced to the reader (the five
Pointer friends plus "Luke the Spook")?
2. What are David Malloy's hopes at the beginning of this chapter,
and how do they get changed?
3. By the end of this chapter, what do you already know about
the five friends who live on the Point? (If you have read other
books in the Jackpine Point Adventure series, try to imagine
that you are just meeting these characters for the first time.)
4. What's the main conflict between David and Luke? And what's
the main conflict inside David?
Chapter 2 "I Remember What I Forgot To Remember"
1. How are the three boys united in their attitude toward Luke?
2. Dillon and Marmy try to encourage David on pp. 24-26. How does
David react? Do you sympathize with his reaction or not?
3. How does David try to manipulate the situation on pp. 27-30?
4. What is the quality David remembers he is supposed to be developing
in his life, and what effect does remembering have on him?
Chapter 3 "My Life Gets In Tents"
1. How does David's mood in this chapter go back and forth
(or up and down)?
2. Notice the descriptive words in the scene of the canoe trip
getting under way. How does the author try to put the reader into
the sights and sensations of canoeing? How successful is she?
3. What insights into Luke's personality do pp. 38-42 give you?
4. If you were a character in this story, how would you handle
Luke at this point?
Chapter 4 "We Have An Emergency . . . Or Two"
1. David worries that "Lukeness" might be contagious
(p. 44). Is his fear realistic?
2. What crisis complicates David's relationship with Luke
(pp. 46-47)?
3. How does the author develop the feeling of being in the cove,
in contrast to being out on the windy lake (pp. 51-52)?
4. At the end of this chapter, what ideas do you have about what
could have happened to the canoe?
Chapter 5 "We Plan A Search Party"
1. Why do you think Brownie and David choose not to tell the
others about what happened at the cabin?
2. On p. 59, how does Brownie show his loyalty to David?
3. What new crisis hits everyone on p. 60, and what do you think
of how the group handles it?
4. How and why do the Pointers become more unified (pp.63-66)?
Chapter 6 "All Trails Lead Somewhere . . . But Where?"
1. Why do you think the other Pointers offer to go with David
to find Luke?
2. During the hike, how does the author show the changes in the
Pointers' mood and their hopes?
3. When the trail goes two ways, Dillon is unsure how to use his
compass after all. How do the Pointers deal with their uncertainty
of which way to go (pp. 74-75)?
4. How do these new developments make David ask deeper questions
about the meaning of perseverance (p. 75)?
Chapter 7 "We Become Missing Persons"
1. The five friends are faced with a new crisis. Trace how
they deal with it and what that tells you about their friendship
(pp. 77-81).
2. What is the significance of David keeping one sandwich hidden
(p. 83)?
3. How does Marmy bring Miss Wainwright into the situation, and
with what results (pp. 83-85)?
4. What part does the loon's call play in the ending of the chapter-both
setting a mood and moving the story forward?
Chapter 8 "Night Falls Down"
1. How does each Pointer deal with his or her reaction to seeing
the cabin (pp. 89-93)?
2. What fears do Brownie and David share that the others don't
know about?
3. When the word "JOE" appears in the dust on the table,
what effect does it have on David and why?
4. How and why does a simple article of clothing (a sweatshirt)
affect David's emotions so strongly?
Chapter 9 "A Night I Can't Forget (And I've Tried)"
1. Why does David choose this time to tell the others about
the canoe incident (pp. 104-105)?
2. On p. 106, what internal conflict is David dealing with which
goes beyond any scary happenings in the cabin?
3. What conclusions does David draw about what happened to Luke
(pp. 109-111)? Do you think his conclusions are reasonable?
4. At the end of the chapter, what new insight about perseverance
is David starting to discover?
Chapter 10 "Perseverance Pays"
1. When David finally pulls out the last sandwich, what effects
does it have (pp. 115-116)?
2. What words would you use to describe the Pointers' mood at
the beginning of the chapter? What happens which radically changes
their feelings (pp. 116-117)?
3. On the trail back to the campsite there are unexpected developments.
How does each one help move the story toward a conclusion?
4. At the campsite, what event puts David's perseverance to one
last test (at least in this story)?
Final questions:
By the end of the book, how has the narrator David Malloy grown (on the inside) and changed?
How has he been strengthened and confirmed in who he is?
Top of PageWhat Others Are Saying |
The Re-Appearing StatueContact the Author |
Ignite discussions with young readers and writers about writing and about life values. These Jackpine Point Adventure study/discussion guides are resources for teachers, homeschoolers, parents, grandparents and anyone who has a reason to talk books and life with young teens. Whether you teach in a public or private school, homeschool, work with a youth group or simply enjoy talking with the kids in your life, author Sandy Larsen will be interested in how you use these guides and what you think of them.
Chapter 1 "Thunder, Lightning and the Latest News"
1. In the first few pages of The Dark Lighthouse, what
clues does the author give you about the characters' personalities
and how they relate to each other? (If you've read other Jackpine
Point Adventure books, try to imagine this is the first time
you've met David, Dillon, Brownie, Marmy and Cathy.)
2. What conflict comes up on p. 13?
3. Notice how the two lighthouses are described (pp. 15-16). How
do you think the author wants you to feel about each of them?
4. On p. 16 the narrator, David, mentions a value he's been learning
to live by-or trying to. How would you expect that value to be
tested in this story?
Chapter 2 "The Lighthouse Pageant Runaround"
1. How do pp. 20-21 help the reader get a better understanding
of David's inner conflict?
2. What more do we learn about Marmy's character on pp.21-23?
3. Throughout this chapter, how does the author establish the
fact of confusion and competition among all those committees and
offices?
4. From pp. 28-30, what can you say about the kind of person Mr.
Henry is?
Chapter 3 "Tryouts Are Trying"
1. How does the author communicate David's nervousness about
trying out (without using the word "nervous") (pp. 32-33)?
2. On pp. 33-34, David makes an embarrassing mistake. How does
he deal with it, and what does that tell you about him?
3. David's focus changes-for a while-on p. 36. What new ideas
are coming into his thoughts, and how might they affect the story?
4. What's David react to the cast list, and how does his reaction
build the conflict between him and Dillon?
Chapter 4 "We Make It Through A Read-Through"
1. From what you know so far, what can you say about Mrs. Beecham's
character?
2. In this chapter the author faced the problem of giving the
reader necessary information about lighthouses. How did she accomplish
that? How else might it have been done?
3. How do you think the author wants the reader to respond to
the photo of the four people (p. 49)? What's your own response?
4. After reading the disaster story on pp. 50-52, try to predict
how this tragedy might fit in with the rest of the book.
Chapter 5 "A Stranger at the Old Tower"
1. What conflicting emotions and thoughts are going on inside
David (p. 57)?
2. Describe the mood which the author sets at the ruined lighthouse
(p. 58). Which words and phrases help convey this mood?
3. A new character is introduced on p. 59. Thomas continues as
a strong presence through the rest of this chapter. What can you
tell about his character? What remains mysterious about him?
4. How does the chapter end on a note of mystery?
Chapter 6 "Lenses and Descendants"
1. Marmy gets right to the point about David getting back at
Dillon (pp. 67-68). In response to her honesty, what decisions
does David make?
2. How does this chapter reinforce what you know about Dillon?
3. Thomas quickly takes authority over the play script, and the
Pointers accept it (pp. 69-71). Do you think their reaction is
realistic, or do you think they would object? (And why?)
4. How does the Pointers' loyalty to Thomas set up the possibility
for further conflict in the story?
Chapter 7 "Thomas Returns"
1. What mood does the fishing boat scene introduce to the story
(pp. 77-79)?
2. How does the lighthouse keeper's hat raise the tension between
David and Dillon (p. 79)?
3. What strange things start happening as soon as David enters
the keeper's dwelling with Thomas (p. 83), and how would you explain
what happens?
4. From the ending of this chapter, where do you think the story
is going next?
Chapter 8 "A Grave Revelation"
1. Why does David start the chapter scared (p. 89)? What previous
events have added to his fear?
2. How does the author build tension between Mr. Henry and Thomas
on pp. 91-93?
3. On pp. 95-96, David and Dillon have a brief conversation in
which all trace of conflict between them is gone. What brings
them together for that short time? Is this realistic?
4. At the end of the chapter, do you believe Thomas' statement,
and what's your reason?
Chapter 9 "Up the Spiral Stairs"
1. How do Mrs. Beecham and Thomas each try to assert authority
and control (pp. 101-103)?
2. A surprising change begins to happen in the way Thomas speaks
to David (pp. 104-107). What do you think is going on?
3. How is David affected by climbing to the top of the lighthouse
tower and seeing the Point from the tower for the first time?
4. Thomas tells a long story as he and the Pointers stand out
on the gallery (pp. 109-112). What techniques does the author
use to keep his story from being only a dull lengthy speech?
Chapter 10 "An Interrupted Pageant"
1. Describe "who is where" in the lighthouse tower
on p. 115. How does the arrangement show the tension among the
people?
2. The author bounces the reader between the stage and the picture-taking
session (pp. 118-120). What's the effect of these scenes going
on at the same time?
3. Sugar "retrieves" the ridiculous stuffed bird immediately
before the most tense scene of the book. Why do you think the
author included a humorous scene at that point?
4. How is tension built up and then released through pp. 122-125?
Final questions:
By the end of the book, how has the narrator David Malloy grown (on the inside) and changed?
How has he been strengthened and confirmed in who he is?
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The Re-Appearing StatueContact the Author |
