About
And they're off! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are excited to see Uncle Warren's new racehorse, Whirlaway, in action. But the night before the big race, the horse disappears! He shows up just in time to lose the race. Why is Whirlaway suddenly so slow? Can the kids figure it out- or is Whirlaway out of the winner's circle for good?
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
Where are Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose going?
Page 1 — To Larchmont, New York to see a racehorse
1
How did they travel to get there?
Page 1 — By train
1
What was missing when the kids went to see Whirlaway?
Page 11 — Whirlaway
11
Chapter 2
Comprehension questions
Where does Forest think Whirlaway has disappeared to?
Page 13 — Over to visit his mother
13
Why did Ruth Rose and Josh have so much fun in the back of the pickup?
Page 15 — The road was bumpy
15
Was Whirlaway visiting his mom?
Page 19 — No
19
Chapter 3
Comprehension questions
What did Whirlaway look like when he returned to the barn?
Page 26 — Muddy
26
What did the kids find on Whirlaway when they were washing him?
Page 28 — A mark like a stamp
28
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
Why did Whirlaway refuse to go with Ruth Rose?
Page 31 — He was spooked from being out in the storm and coming home to strangers
31
Who else was Whirlaway scared of?
Page 32 — Sunny
32
What did Ruth Rose observe about Sunny after reading her book about horses?
Page 36 — Sunny and she doesn’t have Whirlaway’s trust and scares him
36
Chapter 5
Comprehension questions
Where did the kids and adults travel to and why?
Page 39 — Saratoga Springs; a horse race
39
Why does Sunny wear goggles during the race?
Page 44 — The horses in front kick up mud, so it protects her eyes
44
How did Whirlaway react to Sunny when Ruth Rose wanted a picture?
Page 44 — Scared; upset
44
Chapter 6
Comprehension questions
Where did the kids get to sit during the horse races?
Page 45 — Forest’s private box
45
Who won the first horse race?
Page 49 — Merry Mary
49
Why did Forest conclude that something was wrong with Whirlaway after the race?
Page 53 — He had never run so badly before
53
Chapter 7
Comprehension questions
What did Sunny say about Whirlaway’s performance?
Page 55 — She said he ran like a different horse
55
What can make a horse run slower?
Page 56 — Their jockey
56
Who did Ruth Rose take a picture of?
Page 58 — Josh, Dink and Dancer
58
Chapter 8
Comprehension questions
What did Josh find on his collar?
Page 62 — A dark smudge
62
Why did Ruth Rose want to get her film developed so quickly?
Page 63 — So she could see if the man in the cowboy hat was Mr. Bunks
63
If it is Mr. Bunks, what’s the problem?
Page 64 — He said he wasn’t into racing horses anymore; he lied
64
Chapter 9
Comprehension questions
What was on Josh’s collar?
Page 69 — Shoe polish
69
How did the shoe polish get there?
Page 71 — From Dancer, the horse who nudged him from behind, it had shoe polish on its forehead covering up the white mark
71
How was Josh going to prove their horse wasn’t Whirlaway?
Page 73 — Offer it a sugar cube, if the horse eats it, it’s not Whirlaway
73
Chapter 10
Comprehension questions
What was on Josh’s fingers after touching Dancer’s forehead?
Page 77 — Shoe polish
77
Who’s responsible for trading the horses?
Page 78 — Mr. Bunks
78
Why did it take Sunny so long to get home from the race?
Page 84 — She stopped at the vet
84
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.
