About
The four Alden children receive an invitation to a mystery. Their friend Sam is a window washer and has been in a bicycle accident. He gets a letter full of riddles that if he can solve the mystery, he’ll inherit a millionaire’s money. The Alden’s eagerly work to help their friend crack the code.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
What type of work does Sam do?
Page 7 — Washes windows
7
How did he get hurt?
Page 7 — He was riding his bike and hit a tree when a dog ran in front on him.
7
What is Sam like?
Page 9 — Friendly, caring, kind, helpful, a good friend
9
What did Sam get in the mail?
Page 10 — An invitation to a mystery
10
Who did Jessie see looking at Sam’s house?
Page 12 — A man with silver hair
12
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Who sent the invitation to Sam?
Page 17 — Thomas Paintner, a lawyer
17
What was the reward for solving the mystery?
Page 19 — Money
19
What did the children need to find out to solve the mystery?
Page 20 — A secret code word
20
How was Sam feeling when the children left his house?
Page 31 — Sad
31
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Where did the children find the first clue?
Page 38 — On a map Grandfather gave them
38
What are the first few lines of the clue from?
Page 43 — Nursery rhyme
43
What did Jessie feel uneasy about outside the library?
Page 44 — Like they were being watched
44
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Who did Jessie see in the library?
Page 47 — Man with silver hair
47
What was the nursery rhyme that went along with the clue?
Page 48 — Little Boy Blue
48
How did Sam react when the children told him about the nursery rhyme?
Page 51 — Surprised
51
How did Sam’s brother get his nickname Blue?
Page 53 — His favorite rhyme was Little Boy Blue
53
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Whose windows did the children help wash for Sam?
Page 55 — Mrs. Spencer’s
55
Where did the Little Boy Blue nursery rhyme tell the children to go?
Page 61 — Blue Street
61
What other street do they need to go to?
Page 62 — Ice Pone Road
62
What were the children looking for on the corner of Blue Street and Ice Pond Road?
Hollow tree p. 64 Did they find it? No
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Who did the children see shouting on the phone?
Page 66 — Man with silver hair
66
What was the man yelling about?
Page 67 — Some mystery
67
What mystery do the children think he’s talking about?
Page 67 — The Spider’s Clue
67
What is the name of the restaurant the children ate at?
Page 75 — Hollow Tree Restaurant
75
Who was watching the children at the restaurant?
Page 77 — Melissa Campbell
77
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Who was arguing at the Greenfield Nursery?
Page 83 — Melissa and Ray
83
Why was the restaurant called Hollow Tree?
Page 88 — There used to be a hollowed tree there
88
What did the Chlorophytum plant look like?
Page 91 — A big green spider
91
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What was wrong with Watch in the night?
Page 96 — He heard something and was upset
96
Why were Sam and his brother Simon angry at each other?
Page 98 — Sam left the family business
98
What went missing from the boxcar?
Page 99 — Jessie’s notebook and Grandfather’s street map
99
What did Watch find and bring to the children?
Page 100 — A broken heel from a lady’s shoe
100
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
How did Melissa feel when she saw the children come into the office?
Page 112 — Not pleased
112
Who else was at the office to see Thomas Paintner?
Page 114 — Ray from the Greenfield Nursery
114
What did Melissa do the night before?
Page 119 — Steal the notebook and map
119
Who is Pinky?
Page 120 — Rose Hill
120
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What did the children say was the secret code word?
Page 126 — Pinky
126
Who was the mystery man with the silver hair?
Page 127 — Sam’s brother, Simon
127
Who made up the Mystery of the Spider’s Clue?
Page 126 — Thomas Painter, Rose Hill and Simon
126
Why was Simon following the children around?
Page 130 — To make sure they could solve the mystery
130
Downloads
All the book’s resources, or just the ones you need, ready to read or print.
Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
Download one reading section
A small printout with all the resources for the selected section.
