About
Rowan is a shy boy who gets sent on a journey up the mountain to see why the spring has dried up. He finds his courage as others from his village abandon the task and he's left to carry on.
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's Rowan's job in the village?
Page 2 — keeper of the bukshah
2
Tell me about Rowan?
Page 6 — quiet, shy, nervous, father died saving him
6
Who is Sheba?
Page 9 — the village wise woman
9
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
How did Rowan's father die?
Page 14 — a fire
14
What did Rowan give to Sheba?
Page 17 — cheese
17
What is Sheba like?
Page 19 — mad, unpleasant, a witch, scary
19
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Name two of the six people who volunteered to go up the mountain?
Page 30 — Allun, Val, Ellis, John, Marlie, Brondon
30
When were the people going to leave?
Page 31 — the next day
31
What was Rowan's dream about?
Page 32 — Sheba
32
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
What was the stick Sheba had thrown about Rowan?
Page 34 — a wrapped piece of parchment
34
What was on the parchment?
Page 35 — a map of the mountain
35
Who had to hold the parchment to make the map appear?
Page 39 — Rowan
39
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
How did Strong John feel about Rowan's mother?
Page 47 — He loved her.
47
How many people did Sheba say would go on this journey?
Page 47 — seven
47
How many white patches were there on the map?
Page 51 — six
51
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What appeared in one of the clear white spaces?
Page 58 — writing
58
Who was so scared of the spiders he ran back to Rin?
Page 64 — Ellis
64
How did they shine sunlight on the webs?
Page 68 — mirror
68
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Who's the leader of the group through the swamp?
Page 75 — Bronden
75
Who did Rowan see i the swamp?
Page 77 — Star
77
What was the swamp doing to them?
Page 78 — playing tricks with their minds
78
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Who did Bronden see in the swamp?
Page 83 — her childhood friend, Minna
83
Why did Bronden run back?
Page 85 — She couldn't bear to hear the swamp play tricks on her mind again
85
How many people were still in the traveling party after the swamp?
Page 87 — four
87
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
How was Rowan feeling about his three companions?
Page 92 — he trusted and appreciated them
92
Why was Rowan scared to reach the top of the mountain?
Page 97 — the dragon
97
What scared the travelers when they entered the cave?
Page 101 — bats
101
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Why did Allun quit?
Page 108 — he couldn't swim
108
How many people are left in their group now?
Page 112 — three
112
Where did Rowan put his outer clothes so they didn't get wet?
Page 112 — in his pack
112
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Why did the group stuff things into their pockets?
Page 121 — their packs wouldn't fit into the tunnel
121
How did Marlie feel about crawling into the small tunnel?
Page 123 — scared, couldn't breathe
123
Who did Strong John want to send back with Marlie?
Page 123 — Rowan
123
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
What did Rowan do to keep from panicking in the tunnel?
Page 127 — close his eyes
127
Why did Rowan feel he didn't have the bravest heart?
Page 130 — he fears everything
130
How did Rowan help John make it through the night?
Page 132 — built a snow wall, heated stones, lay by John to warm him up
132
Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
What did the dragon do to John?
Page 136 — pin him to the wall
136
What made the dragon's mouth bleed?
Page 138 — a bone jammed in his tooth
138
What did Rowan throw at the dragon?
Page 141 — compass & map
141
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Worksheets
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