About
Jack and Annie continue their journey as they find the second key to greatness under the direction and assistance of Merlin, They get to meet the Great Houdini at the amusement park on Coney Island and even get to perform on the same stage as the great illusionist.
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 two things did Merlin give Jack and Annie to help them during their quest?
Page 7 — A gold ring (Ring of Truth) and a tiny bottle of Merlin’s magic mist
7
Where did Merlin want them to go for this mission?
Page 8 — Coney Island, NY
8
Who were Jack and Annie going to visit for this adventure?
Page 8 — The Great Houdini
8
What do you know about the Great Houdini?
A magician, performer
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
After the tree house landed in New York, Annie thought they had arrived at the time of the Middle Ages. What made her come to that conclusion?
Page 10 — She saw spires, towers, turrets, domes
10
Back in 1908, how much was a penny worth if compared to a coin in our time?
Page 11 — A quarter
11
What ride did Jack and Annie go on before buying their tickets for Houdini’s show?
Page 21 — A water roller coaster; Shoot the Chutes
21
Why do you think Jack wanted to buy the tickets to Houdini’s show before eating the hot dog, ice cream and going on Shoot the Chutes?
Page 22 — It might be sold out; they might miss it
22
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
How did Jack like the Shoot the Chutes ride he and Annie went on?
Page 23 — He didn’t like it; it made him queasy
23
What’s the definition of “coincidence”?
Page 27 — an occurrence of events happening by chance
27
Give an example of onomatopoeia in this chapter.
Page 29 — Ah-OO-ga! Ah-OO-ga!
29
Why was Mr. Dewey so upset when Jack and Annie tried to buy tickets for the Great Houdini’s show?
Page 32 — The opening act, the Bambini Brothers ran off stealing from the box office, now the Great Houdini’s show doesn’t have an opening act and it will start late
32
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
How did Jack and Annie help solve Mr. Dewey’s problem of not having an opening act for the Great Houdini?
Page 36 — Jack and Annie used the magic mist to become great performers and do the opening act
36
What was the name of Jack and Annie’s act for the performance?
Page 38 — Jolly Jack and the Amazing Annie
38
How did Jack feel about performing in the opening act of the Great Houdini?
He didn’t like it p.39&44
What’s the definition of a “horde”?
Page 40 — a large group of people
40
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Why did Jack turn around and go back to the theater, especially when he was so angry at Annie?
Page 46 — She was going to use the magic mist to become a great performer, but he realized he had the mist
46
How did Jack sneak into the theater?
Page 49-50 — He climbed onto a garbage can and crate to reach the window of Annie’s dressing room
49-50
How did Jack feel about performing after he inhaled the mist?
Page 54 — The crowd wasn’t so scary, he couldn’t wait to get on stage and show them what he could do
54
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
What are illusionists?
Page 59 — Magicians
59
Tell me three magic tricks Jack and Annie did during their act.
Page 62-67 — Pulled rabbits and doves from their hats, made cards appear from thin air, made wands appear, connecting three solid rings
62-67
Tell me the definition of “flourish”.
Page 69 — To make dramatic, sweeping gestures
69
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Why did Jack and Annie go back on stage and perform a second time?
Page 71 — The Great Houdini hadn’t shown up to do the show
71
Why did the audience “boo” Jack when the curtain lifted for the second performance?
Page 76 — They wanted the Great Houdini
76
Why was the Great Houdini late for his performance?
Page 81 — He and Bess got trapped on the Trip to the Moon ride
81
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What was one of the Great Houdini’s nicknames?
Page 88 — The Master of Escape
88
Describe to me the Great Houdini’s most thrilling and dangerous escape he performed that night?
Page 89 — He escaped a huge locked milk can full of water with three pairs of handcuffs around his wrists
89
What magic trick did the Great Houdini do that included his wife Bess?
Page 94 — He tied her arms behind her back, she stepped into a large bag that Houdini tied at the top, she was placed in a trunk that was inside a cabinet, then the cabinet was locked with padlocks. She escaped and opened the trunk and bag and the Great Houdini jumped out
94
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
How did Harry and Bess leave the theater after the show?
Page 97 — Through a secret exit out of their dressing room
97
Where did Jack and Annie find Harry and Bess?
Page 101 — On a bench eating ice cream cones
101
Why do Harry and Bess wear such big hats?
Page 101 — So fans won’t recognize them
101
What did Bess say to Jack and Annie that made the Ring of Truth glow?
Page 105 — Anyone would have to work hard to be truly great at something
105
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Why did Jack and Annie want to walk with Harry and Bess to the Japanese Tea Garden?
Page 107 — That’s where the magic tree house was
107
When Jack and Annie were telling their new friends about the magic tree house, how did Harry and Bess respond?
Page 109 — They didn’t believe them, they winked at each other, went along with Jack and Annie
109
Why did Jack and Annie tell Harry and Bess their secret about the tree house?
Harry mentioned he would be happy to just once see a bit of magic he could never do or never explain p.107&112
What was Jack and Annie’s new secret of greatness?
Page 112 — Hard work
112
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