Warriors in Winter

By Mary Pope Osborne

Grades 1-4; Genre - Historical Fiction with Fantastical Elements; Lexile 410L; AR pts: 1.0

We are warriors! Jack and Annie have met knights, pirates, ninjas, and Vikings, but they have never met the most fearsome warriors of all: Roman soldiers. When the magic tree house whisks them back to the early 100s AD, Jack and Annie find themselves in a Roman camp. Their mission: Be like a warrior.

Vocabulary

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

1. What animal appeared on the lamppost in Jack and Annie’s yard? An eagle p.3
2. Where are Jack and Annie traveling to? By the Danube, a river that ran along the border of the Roman Empire p.7
3. What were Jack and Annie supposed to do on this mission? Write in journals, do what warriors do, give a silver coin to a hero p.9

Chapter 2

1. What’s a journal? Something you keep your notes, memories and important ideas in p.14
2. Describe the rider on the black horse. Friendly, a warrior, helpful p.17
3. How did Jack and Annie enter the camp so easily? The rider told them the password and said to explain they were visiting scholars under the command of the Imperial Guard p.21

Chapter 3

1. Where did Jack and Annie find the warriors? On the field training p.25
2. Describe a centurion. A super-strict commander that carries a big stick to hit their own men p.20
3. Describe the life of a warrior in the legion. They have to train every day, they have heavy packs to carry including 60 pounds of weapons, have to march 20 miles with full armor and packs three times a month, if they get out of step they die, when they’re not training they work at other things p.29

Chapter 4

1. List two items the cook make for his squad. Cheese, beans, salted fish, bread, olives, barley p.36
2. What’s the symbol that stands for the legion? An eagle p.38
3. What was so heavy Annie fell over when trying to hold it and Jack couldn’t lift it higher than his knees? A hammer in the forge p.39

Chapter 5

1. Why did Jack and Annie try on the armor? Morgan told them to do what warriors do, and warriors put on armor p.42
2. How did Jack and Annie feel as they put on the armor? That it was very heavy and hard to see; they had a lot of respect for warriors p.44
3. Why did warriors pour into the armory, making Jack and Annie hide in the shadows? They were getting ready for the Emperor’s parade at noon p.46

Chapter 6

1. Why did a warrior call Jack and Annie deserters? The warrior thought they were getting out of their armor to sneak away from the army p.50
2. Who did the centurion think the rider on the black horse was? An enemy spy p.55
3. Why were Jack and Annie taken captive? The centurion was suspicious of them and was worried about the black rider telling them the secret password p.56

Chapter 7

1. Where did the centurion take Jack and Annie? To see the emperor p.59
2. Who did the emperor turn out to be? The rider on the black horse p.62

Chapter 8

1. How did the emperor treat Jack and Annie? With kindness; he trusted them p.65
2. What does the emperor do when he’s scared? He looks deep inside and finds an inner strength p.67
3. Why was the emperor so startled by the coin? Its engravened with him and his warriors on a frozen river and it has a later date p.70

Chapter 9

1. What were Jack and Annie’s feelings when the emperor first ordered them to march in the parade? Scared; intimidated; they didn’t want to p.73
2. What were Jack and Annie assigned to do for the parade? Carry the eagle standard and flag and lead the rest of the army around the field p.73
3. How did Jack and Annie leave the camp? On a white horse with the emperor on his black horse p.77

Chapter 10

1. What does Marcus have written down in his journal? Poetry and a list of things he feels have a special beauty p.79
2. Why was it strange for the Roman Emperor to write down things of beauty in his journal? You wouldn’t expect a leader to do that 85
3. What did Jack and Annie learn from Marcus? To write down and appreciate the beautiful things in life p.85