About
New neighbors move in next to the Aldens. Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny help the new young boys build a tree house and work together as they solve the mystery about a hidden room in the big house.
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 was going on with the house next door?
Page 8 — Family moving in
8
What’s the family’s last name?
Page 10 — Beach
10
Why did the Alden children make dinner for the Beach’s?
Page 15 — they’d be tired from moving in
15
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
What did the Alden’s want to do with the Beach boys?
Page 22 — Build a tree house
22
Why do the Beach boys just lie around?
Page 25 — They think, not much to do
25
Why did Mr. Beach and Uncle Max fight?
Page 30 — They thought the other person had the spy glass.
30
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
Whose tree house plan was the best?
Page 38 — Mr. Beach’s
38
Why doesn’t Mrs. Beach want the Beach boys to ride their bikes?
Page 24 — They could get hurt
24
Who do they Beach boys want to visit?
Page 45 — Uncle Max
45
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Tell me about Uncle Max’s restaurant?
Page 50 — Dark, empty, smelled good
50
Did Uncle Max remember Jeffrey and Sammy?
Page 51 — Yes
51
What did Uncle Max think the boys came to see him for?
Page 53 — Spyglass
53
Who helped Mr. Beach and Uncle Max build their tree house?
Page 54 — A man visiting the people of the house the Aldens live in now.
54
How did Uncle Max feel about the house?
Page 57 — Spooky
57
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What did Sammy hear in the night above his room?
Page 62 — Rocking noise
62
What was in the hole in the tree?
Page 67 — Spyglass
67
Who put the spyglass in the hole?
Page 67 — The man who help Uncle Max and Mr. Beach build their tree house.
67
What did the children see as they looked through the spyglass?
Page 68 — A round window on the house
68
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What are some clues that led the children to think someone lived in the attic?
Page 73 — Nail holes, wallpaper
73
How did the wall sound when Benny tapped on it?
Page 75 — Hollow
75
What was underneath the wrapping paper on the wall?
Page 76 — A door
76
What did they find when they opened the door?
Page 80 — Red slippers, rocking horse, toys, books, bed, a little boy’s room
80
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Why doesn’t Uncle Max get very many customers?
Page 84 — the restaurant’s not on a busy road
84
How did Uncle Max remember the name of the family who lived in the house before them?
Page 87 — Going through the alphabet
87
What were some suggestions the children had to help Uncle Max’s restaurant?
Page 89 — New name, more windows, do something special that would make people want to come
89
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What did Sammy and Jeffrey find written on the pillowcase?
Page 92 — W and C
92
How did the children learn the name of the boy who lived in the room?
Page 93 — It was carved on the desk
93
When the children lifted off the saddle to the rocking horse, what did they find?
Page 94 — A little book
94
What were the two clues the children found out about the boy?
Page 96 — His name, came to visit his grandmother
96
Why did the children talk to Mrs. McGregor about the clues?
Page 98 — She remembers going to a little boy’s party at that house when she was a little girl.
98
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Where did the children go to get more information about the house?
Page 101 — Library
101
Where was Willy from?
Page 105 — England
105
Why did Sammy think Mrs. Carver closed up the room with Willy’s things in it?
Page 106 — So no other children would play with his things.
106
What did Sammy suggest Uncle Max should name his restaurant?
Page 109 — The Rocking Horse
109
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Who does Uncle Max remember came to visit the house when he was a child?
Page 111 — Willy, someone with a British accent
111
What was the man looking for?
Page 112 — His room, rocking horse
112
Who came over to see the tree house?
Page 114 — Uncle Max
114
In the book Uncle Max found, what did it say about Willy’s room?
Page 119 — His grandmother hid it so strange children wouldn’t play with Willy’s toys.
119
Was Sammy right about the room then?
Page 119 — Yes
119
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
What did the children do to help Uncle Max get ready for The Rocking Horse’s opening day?
Page 121 — Wrote a story about the rocking horse, made curtains, put flowers on the table, took toys to the restaurant
121
How did the customers feel about the restaurant?
Page 123 — Wanted to come back, loved it
123
What did Benny learn from Sammy and Jeffrey?
Page 126 — To think
126
Downloads
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Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
Download one reading section
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