About
Jack and Annie help Merlin recover the Sword of Light. They meet Kathleen, a selkie, who uses her magic to turn them into seals.
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 is summer solstice?
Page 2 — The first day of summer, longest day of the year
2
What was the invitation from Merlin written on?
Page 4 — Seashell
4
What was in the rhyme that scared Jack and Annie?
Page 6 — Ghosts and spiders
6
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
How did Annie call the Water Knight?
Page 14 — Opened her arms and shouted out to him
14
What did the knight’s creature look like?
Page 15 — Half horse/ half fish
15
Where did the knight take them?
Page 20 — To a cove
20
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What cave were Jack and Annie trying to get through?
Page 22 — Spider Queen’s
22
How did the starfish get on the ceiling of the cave?
Page 27 — High tide coming into the cave
27
Why couldn’t they go back out of the cave the way they came in?
Page 29 — waves will keep knocking them down/ water current was too strong
29
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
How did Jack know the Spider Queen was trying to help them?
Page 34 — Something about her voice
34
What did the Spider Queen do to help them?
Page 35 — Make a web ladder
35
What helped Jack and Annie stay on the ladder and not slip off?
Page 35 — It was sticky
35
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
According to the rhyme, what were Jack and Annie supposed to swim with next?
Page 40 — A selkie
40
What came up out of the water and was so excited to see Jack and Annie?
Page 41 — Two seals
41
What did the seals want to do?
Page 43 — Sit in the sun and nap
43
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Who woke up Jack and Annie?
Page 45 — Teddy
45
Who was the selkie they met?
Page 50 — Kathleen
50
What did Kathleen have to say about the Cove of the Stormy Coast?
Page 51 — She’s forbidden to go there, terrible winter storms burst out when anyone tries to enter, she’s always wanted to explore that cove
51
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
How did Jack, Annie, Kathleen and Teddy become seals?
Page 56 — Put on seal skins, Kathleen spoke magic words, they dove into the water
56
How do you know Jack enjoyed being a seal?
Page 60 — It was fun going fast and smooth swimming everywhere
60
How did the children speak when they were seals?
Page 60 — Clicking and gurgling sounds
60
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
How were the children able to swim through the jellyfish safely?
Page 64 — Their tough seal skins protected them.
64
What are the selkies talking about when they say “the Cloak of the Old Gray Ghost”?
Page 67 — very thick fog
67
Why wasn’t it a good idea for all four of the children to be seals to dive for the sword?
Page 68 — Seals can’t pick up the heavy sword with their flippers.
68
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
What happened to the storm as Jack and Annie brought the sword up to the surface?
Page 76 — Went away
76
When did Jack and Annie need to get the sword back to Merlin?
Page 77 — Before nightfall
77
Why were the green hills shifting and moving?
Page 78 — It was a serpent’s body
78
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Why did the serpent wake up when Jack and Annie got the Sword of Light?
Page 80 — He was protecting it
80
What was the question Jack and Annie needed to answer to have the sword?
Page 80 — What’s the purpose of the sword?
80
What is the purpose of the sword?
Page 86 — Peace
86
Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
What did Kathleen and Teddy make with the sword and a spell so Jack and Annie could get to their tree house quickly?
Page 91 — A bright bridge
91
How did Jack feel about leaving Teddy and Kathleen?
Page 94 — Didn’t want to
94
What happened to the bridge when Jack and Annie stepped off of it?
Page 96 — Shattered
96
Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
Who was waiting at the tree house for Jack and Annie?
Page 97 — Merlin
97
Why did they have to get the sword on summer solstice?
Page 98 — That’s the day the Ice Wizard’s power is the weakest
98
Who did the Ice Wizard steal the sword from?
Page 98 — Lady of the Lake
98
How does Jack know the Water Knight was Merlin?
Page 105 — They had the same wave.
105
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.
