The Great Treehouse War
About
Fifth-grader Winnie, with notes from her friends, writes of turning her treehouse into an embassy after her newly divorced parents become unreasonable, where she is joined by nine others with complaints.
Comprehension Questions Chapter 1
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.
Reading questions
Comprehension questions
Why was Winnie’s teacher, Mr. Benetto curious about Winnie?
Page 6 — She comes to school happy and outgoing on Thursdays, but the rest of the week she’s quiet and reserved
6
What are Winnie’s parent’s names?
Page 17 — Varun and Alexis
17
Why would Winnie think her parents were getting a divorce?
Page 14 — They always fought
14
What are some other solutions Winnie’s parents might have come up with instead of having Winnie live in a tree house?
Page 15 — listen to your child’s answers
15
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Why do you think Uncle Huck was so good to Winnie?
Page 30 — She was his niece; he had a special connection with her
30
Why was Thanksgiving so important to Winnie’s family?
Page 34 — That was the only holiday her family cared about and they had a huge feast
34
What was the first holiday Winnie’s mom decided to celebrate with her and why?
Page 35 — Flag Day; to be better than Winnie’s father; to win Winnie’s favor
35
Can you answer Mr. Benetto’s inquiry about why Winnie comes to school so happy on Thursday now? Explain.
Page 38 — Yes, because she’s in her tree house alone with no holidays or pressure from her parents
38
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
How did Mr. B. start off his conversation with Winnie?
Page 49 — He asked her if everything was all right at home
49
Why did Mr. B. talk to Winnie instead of her parents?
Page 52 — Her parents were difficult and wouldn’t come to talk to Mr. B. if the other one was there
52
Why was Winnie failing 5th grade and what did she have to do to pass?
Page 54 — She never had time to do her homework since her parents take all her time and celebrate holidays every day; she has to get an A or A- on a good local history report
54
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Winnie want to tell her friends about her problems at first?
Page 60 — Didn’t want to think about it and wanted to focus on happier things
60
Why did the friends wait to eat cupcakes at lunch?
Page 60 — Squizzy wanted to wait for Winnie
60
Why was Squizzy grounded from reading books?
Page 70 — She needed to get her grades up
70
Why would the next school year be so different than the previous ones?
Page 74 — The kids are going to middle school
74
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Where was Winnie’s father planning on taking her for the summer?
Page 90 — Kansas to study grouse feces
90
Why was Winnie upset about her mother’s idea of spending Wednesdays with her?
Page 93 — That’s Winnie’s alone time and she loves it
93
Explain why Winnie’s parents aren’t doing the holiday celebrations for her, but for themselves.
Page 94 — They don’t really care about Winnie’s feelings or grades and are more concerned about being the better, more fun parent
94
Predict what the letter stuck to the book said.
Page 96 — Listen to your child’s answers
96
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Describe Winnie’s plan.
Page 106 — Since the treehouse wasn’t a part of the U.S., Winnie didn’t have to follow the laws of the country or her parents and could do what she wanted.
106
Why did Winnie come up with this plan?
Page 106 — To get her parents to stop being selfish and begin listening to her
106
Predict what Winnie’s parents will do when they read about her plan.
Page 108 — Listen to your child’s answers
108
Part II · Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
Why do Winnie’s parents feel like everything has to be even?
Page 114 — They don’t want the other parent to be better than them
114
What did Winnie demand since both of her parents wanted to talk to her?
Page 116 — They both climb up the ladder and talk to her together
116
Part II · Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
Why wouldn’t Winnie want her friends to stay in the treehouse?
Page 125 — She wanted to get her report finished
125
Who joined Winnie in the treehouse?
Page 126 — The Tulip Street Ten
126
What did the kids in the treehouse write to their parents?
Page 142 — Their demands; what it will take to get them to come down from the treehouse
142
Part II · Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
Why were there so many reporters and cameramen gathered around the treehouse?
Page 145 — They were all curious and thought this story would make a great headline
145
What did Uncle Huck want when he came to visit?
Page 149 — To check on Winnie and to show support
149
Do you feel Winnie’s demand for her parents is reasonable? Why or why not?
Page 153 — Listen to your child’s answers
153
How did other parents around the world feel about the treehouse war?
Page 156 — They thought the kids were brats and that the parents should hold out and not give the kids what they want
156
Part II · Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
Describe what’s going on with the war at the beginning of this chapter?
Page 163 — Parents aren’t giving in to the demands and the kids are confused
163
Create your own strategy of how the parents could get the kids to give up and come down.
Page 164 — Listen to your child’s thoughts
164
Explain why the sleepover wasn’t as fun as when it first started?
Page 178 — The kids are all tired and grumpy
178
Why couldn’t the kids just leave and go home when they wanted to?
Page 178 — They wouldn’t have their demands met and they knew they’d lose the war
178
Part II · Chapter 11
Comprehension questions
Do you agree with Lyle or Squizzy? Explain.
Page 190 — Listen to your child’s answers
190
Why couldn’t Winnie pick a side?
Page 191 — She agreed with both of their opinions and didn’t want to hurt either of their feelings
191
What was the new war created in the treehouse?
Page 194 — Squizzy supporters were against Lyle’s supporters and all were against Winnie since she wouldn’t choose a side
194
Part II · Chapter 12
Comprehension questions
Why was it important for Winnie to escape to Uncle Huck’s?
Page 203 — she needed to finish her report and got to talk to Uncle Huck about everything
203
Part III · Chapter 13
Comprehension questions
Why did Winnie think she couldn’t communicate very well?
Page 209 — No one listened to her
209
Why did Winnie need to fix everything quickly?
Page 212 — Someone was hired to find a loophole in the law and stop the war
212
Part III · Chapter 14
Comprehension questions
Summarize what happened in this chapter.
Page 218 — Winnie took her uncle’s advice, looked at her friends with her Artist Vision and realized what was really going on with her friends
218
Part III · Chapter 15
Comprehension questions
Who did Winnie write letters to and why?
Page 226 — Her friends’ families and others they respect. She wanted to communicate to them what her friends needed and were interested in so they could reach out to them and help them come home
226
Part III · Chapter 16
Comprehension questions
Why was Winnie happy to be alone?
Page 244 — It’s quiet
244
Why weren’t Winnie’s friends made at her?
Page 248 — They got what they needed, and the demands weren’t important anymore
248
What favor did Lyle do for Winnie?
Page 256 — Wrote notes to her parents
256
Part III · Chapter 17
Comprehension questions
How was Winnie able to get through to her parents?
Page 260 — She respectfully kept talking and trying to explain until they started to listen
260
Part III · Chapter 18
Comprehension questions
How have Winnie’s parents grown and changed?
Page 271 — They don’t fight anymore, aren’t competitive or selfish, and they respect Winnie’s wishes
271
What were the kids going to do with the treehouse?
Page 280 — Make it fun for all kids and allow them to come hang out on Wednesdays
280
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