About
Jack and Annie always go on important missions, but this time they must save an entire town! The town is Nome, Alaska, and the year is 1925. Many children and grown-ups are sick and dying. The medicine that will save them is coming from Anchorage, a thousand miles away. Its being carried by a relay of dogsleds and dogs, but a huge blizzard is coming through. It's up to Jack and Annie to find a lost team led by the famous sled dog, Balto.
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 did Annie see above the woods?
Page 4 — A bright flash of light
4
Where are Jack and Annie needed in this adventure?
Page 6 — A seaside town below the Arctic; Alaska
6
What will the enchanted gold dust help Jack and Annie do and how long does it last?
Page 7 — Receive a skill that will only help them when they are saving the lives of others; 12 hours
7
Why did Teddy give the kids stardust?
Page 9 — It will make people forget; Merlin didn’t want Jack and Annie to be remembered by anyone on their mission
9
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Where did Jack and Annie travel to?
Page 17 — Nome, Alaska
17
What does “quarantine” mean?
Page 21 — To be isolated if you’re sick with a deadly illness, so you won’t spread it
21
What’s the sickness that’s going around the town that requires medicine?
Page 22 — Diphtheria
22
Why did the Board of Health order Gunnar Kaasen to stay in Solomon and not continue to Nome?
Page 23 — A huge blizzard was expected to come through the area, and they didn’t want to lose the medicine
23
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What was the only form of transportation to and from Nome during the winter?
Page 29 — Dogsled
29
What was Oki going to do?
Page 29 — Go by dogsled himself to get the medicine from Gunnar Kaasen
29
What was the radio bulletin Jack and Annie heard while waiting for Oki to talk to his uncle?
Page 34 — That 5 people had died in Nome, Alaska from the outbreak of Diphtheria, and the best mushers and dogs were trying to get the medicine to Nome before anyone else dies, but there’s a big blizzard coming from the Arctic and the mushers may not be able to continue to Nome
34
Why is getting the medicine a race against death?
Page 38 — If the medicine doesn’t arrive in time, Oki’s mom, sister and others will die
38
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
If Oki stays in Nome, how are Jack and Annie going to know where to go?
Page 43 — Uncle Joe’s sled dogs know the way
43
What was Oki’s resolve when Jack and Annie told him he had to stay in Nome?
Page 46 — He accepted it, but was disappointed
46
How do Jack and Annie always treat dogs?
Page 27 — By being firm, fair and giving kindness and respect
27
What did Oki give Jack and Annie for food to give to the dogs?
Page 49 — Dried fish
49
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
What was Jack an expert of as they travelled through the night?
Page 51 — a musher; knowing what a musher does and giving commands to the dogs
51
Why did the huskies come to a halt and start barking?
Page 56 — Jack tumbled off the sled from a sharp curve
56
Why did Jack fall behind Annie when he was running with the sled?
Page 58 — As they were running on ice he broke through and got stuck in the ice
58
Why did Jack need to get out of his wet boots?
Page 59 — It was so cold he could get severe frost bite
59
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
How did Ed help Jack and Annie?
Page 62 — He gave them shelter and a warm place to be. He knew what to do for Jack’s feet; he fed them; he also unhitched the dogs so they wouldn’t freeze out in the cold and let them come inside
62
What did Ed and Annie do to help the dogs feel better?
Page 64 — Gave them water and massaged each foot
64
How did Ed react when Jack and Annie told him they needed to go back into the storm?
Page 69 — he thought they were crazy
69
What did Ed do to stop Jack and Annie from going back into the blizzard?
Page 71 — Fed them and was firm on not letting them
71
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Who is Balto?
Page 74 — Gunnar Kaasen’s dog; he’s one of the best lead dogs in Alaska; loves to run a trail; great strength and courage; big shaggy black dog
74
Why are Alaskans grateful for the animals that live there?
Page 75 — The people couldn’t live without them; they get their clothing, food and other necessities from them
75
What happened when Annie used the stardust in Ed’s home?
Page 80 — It made everything look like they were never there
80
What did the jingling bells mean?
Page 84 — Another dogsled was near
84
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Who did Jack and Annie find?
Page 86 — Gunnar Kaasen and his dogsled
86
What fell off the sled into the snow?
Page 88 — The medicine
88
Why did Annie unhook Balto?
Page 88 — So he could help them find the medicine
88
What influence did Balto have on the other huskies?
Page 94 — They were livelier and stronger than before
94
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Why was Oki excited the newspaper reporters were in town?
Page 98 — He wanted the whole world to hear their story and that Jack and Annie saved the day
98
Why did Jack and Annie throw the stardust into the air?
Page 99 — So everyone who saw them on their mission would forget them
99
Who did Mr. Kaasen say he owed the success of his part of the relay?
Page 101 — His dog, Balto
101
Who bounded after Jack and Annie as they headed for the tree house?
Page 102 — Balto
102
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What did Annie think was the best part of their mission?
Page 108 — The dogs
108
What did Annie find in the greenery?
Page 110 — A puppy
110
Why would the puppy be a gift to Jack and Annie?
Page 111 — For always being willing to serve and help Merlin and Morgan
111
What did they name the puppy?
Page 114 — Oki
114
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