Category Archives: Ron Roy

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Vampire’s Vacation

The Vampire's Vacation

by Ron Roy

Grades 2-5; Genre - Mystery; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

Grab your garlic, Green Lawn! There's a villainous vibe coming from the pale, dark-haired man Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose see in the supermarket. When they follow him into Ellie's Diner, the stranger vanishes! But there's a cut on Ellie's neck - or could it be a bite? Could there really be vampire in town? And could Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose be his next victims?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Why were Josh, Dink and Ruth Rose at the supermarket?
    They had just hauled newspapers to the recycle bin and wanted a cold drink
    p.3
  2. Why did Josh think the man in line at the meat
    counter looked like a vampire? He had black hair, skinny lips, and pale skin
    p.6
  3. How did Dink feel when the man turned, looked,
    and nodded at them? he got goose bumps p.8

Chapter 2

  1. How did Ellie react when she saw the man out
    the window? She acted scared; she backed away and went behind the counter
    p.14
  2. What happens to the man when the kids continue
    to follow the him in the stores? He disappears and isn’t there p.15
  3. What did both Mr. Paskey and Ellie have on
    their necks? A small round Band Aid p.18

Chapter 3

  1. Is Dracula a vampire? No p.23
  2. How did Josh convince his friends to find the
    man he thinks is a vampire? He wanted to find out why he was disappearing,
    and he knew Dink wanted to find out what was going on with the Band Aids p.27
  3. What’s the man’s name and what do you know
    about him? Dr. A. Cula; he’s a doctor from New York City p.30

Chapter 4

  1. Who else had a Band Aid on their neck? Mr.
    Linkletter p.31
  2. What strange thing did Livvy notice when she
    took Dr. Cula up to his room? He laid on his bed and asked for the air
    conditioning to be turned up. He wrapped himself in a cape and feel asleep fast,
    like he was dead p.34
  3. What did Dink think Dr. Cula’s hobby could be
    since he disappears and wears a cape? Being a magician p.36

Chapter 5

  1. What did Josh gather from the vegetable garden
    and why? Garlic gloves; for protection, vampires don’t like garlic p.40
  2. What did Ruth Rose spell with the blocks after
    putting together Dr. A. Cula? Dracula p.41
  3. Who were the kids going to talk to at this end
    of this chapter? Police Officer Fallon p.43

Chapter 6

  1. What was Officer Fallen’s reaction when the kids
    told him what happened with Dr. Cula? He was surprised and wanted to talk
    with him p.49
  2. Why did Josh need to get back home? He told
    his mom he’d babysit the twins p.49
  3. How was Josh and Dink going to entertain the
    twins? Take them on a pony ride p.51

Chapter 7

  1. Explain what was strange about the Band Aids
    being all the same? People like to choose different shapes and colors of Band
    Aids if they need one p.54
  2. Who left a message on the answering machine
    and what did she say? Ruth Rose; she wanted the boys to meet her at the
    Shangri-la Hotel p.57
  3. What was strange about the Book Nook being
    closed as the boys were on their way to the hotel? Mr. Paskey never closes the
    store in the middle of the afternoon p.59

Chapter 8

  1. How was Mr. Linkletter acting strangely? He
    gave the boys Dr. Cula’s room number without looking, gave them permission to
    go up and see if he was there, and he acted nervous p.62
  2. Describe what the boys found when they went
    into room 202. No one was there, it was freezing cold, in the closet was a
    black suitcase and black cape, a note on the side table p.64
  3. Describe the note. It was written in purple
    crayon that smelled like jellybeans and had listed each of the names: Ellie,
    Mr. Paskey, Mr. Linkletter, Ruth Rose, Josh and Dink p.65

Chapter 9

  1. What does Dink think is going on? That Dr.
    Cula gave the Band Aids to everyone p.69
  2. Who opened the door when the boys were in the
    closet hiding? Ruth Rose p.71

Chapter 10

  1. Who’s Jimmy Jett? An actor from New York who’s
    going to play Dracula in a movie p.73
  2. Why did Ellie, Mr. Paskey and Mr. Linkletter
    have Band Aids on their necks? Jimmy Jett gave them to each of them to play
    a prank on the kids p.76
  3. Why did Mr. Linkletter give the boys the room
    number and permission to go to the room? All who were in on the prank were
    waiting for them to go to the room, then followed them up p.79

Chapter 11

  1. What did Jimmy Jett invite the kids to? To New
    York City to watch his movie p.81
  2. Who appeared in the movie box next to Josh? Jimmy
    Jett dressed as Dracula p.83

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Haunted Hotel

The Haunted Hotel

By Ron Roy

Grades 2-5; Genre – Mystery; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

A ghost has checked into the Shangri-la Hotel! It’s almost Halloween, and reports of strange sounds and even stranger sights are coming from Green Lawn’s only hotel. Every day, more and more guests are being scared away. Everyone else is getting scared, too! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose must figure out what’s going on and catch the ghost – before Green Lawn turns into a ghost town!

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What’s the setting of this story? Dink’s
    living room on Sunday, in Green Lawn, CT p.1
  2. What did the newspaper claim was haunted? The
    Shangri-la Hotel in Green Lawn p.2
  3. Why is it the biggest week of the year for
    the hotel? Many tourists come to see the fall colors p.7

Chapter 2

  1. Where did Mr. Linkletter explain to the kids
    what’s going on? In his office p.11
  2. Who’s Livvy? The hotel maid p.15
  3. Why did the kids want to help Mr. Linkletter? He’s
    their friend p.16
  4. What did the kids think they saw when the
    elevator door opened? The ghost p.16

Chapter 3

  1. Who did the kids meet after they pushed the
    black button on the elevator and ended up on an unknown floor of the hotel? Mr.
    and Mrs. Spivets; Mr. Linkletter’s Aunt and Uncle who used to own the hotel
    p.21
  2. What’s the ghost telling Mr. and Mrs. Spivets? To
    go away and leave the hotel p.24
  3. Why are the Spivets selling the hotel? There’s
    a real estate company that’s been wanting to buy it and with the ghosts they
    don’t feel they have another choice p.25

Chapter 4

  1. What did the kids resolve to do since no one
    they talked to had seen the ghost? Find someone who had seen it p.30
  2. Who did the kids talk to that saw the ghost? Mr.
    and Mrs. Jeffers p.32
  3. What did Mr. Spivets want the kids to do that
    night? Sleep in the hotel so they can solve the mystery and maybe see the
    ghost p.35

Chapter 5

  1. Who’s the Casper Nate referred to when saying he
    wanted to see a ghost? Casper is from a cartoon called Casper the Friendly
    Ghost p.38
  2. Why is Dink able to stay up later than usual? There’s
    no school the next day p.41
  3. What’s Rose Ruth’s plan to see the ghost? Hang
    out until midnight p.42

Chapter 6

  1. Where did the kids stake out to see the ghost? In
    the cleaning closet p.44
  2. What did the ghost call out as it passed each of
    their family’s rooms? It called each of the kid’s names and said to leave,
    its dangerous, or go before its too late and to leave now p.46
  3. What clue did Ruth Rose find on the doorframe? A
    human hair p.50

Chapter 7

  1. What was the yucky smell Josh noticed in the
    hall the night before? The smell of Halloween make-up p.53
  2. What did Livvy find under the Jeffers bed that
    she thought was a rat? A wig p.57
  3.  What’s a dumbwaiter?
    Small elevator shaft used to lift small things up and down from one room to
    another p.58

Chapter 8

  1. What did the kids and Livvy find while searching
    the Jeffers’ hotel room? The wig, a tape with spooky music, a sword, Halloween
    make-up p.63
  2. Where did the kids find the Jeffers? At Ellie’s
    eating breakfast p.66
  3. How did the Jeffers react when they read the
    note from Ruth Rose? They waved the kids over to them and admitted it p.69

Chapter 9

  1. Why were the Jeffers wanting to scare the
    hotel guests away? They’re actors and had been hired by three men to scare
    them away p.72
  2. Why didn’t the Jeffers realize the hotel was
    closing? They were told the hotel was being used in a horror movie and that
    scaring guests away was huge for publicity, and the guests would get their money
    back and free tickets to the movie; the Jeffers would then have starring roles
    in the movie p.73
  3. Who hired the Jeffers’? the same men buying
    the hotel p.74

Chapter 10

  1. How did Eatch, Rail and Roock realize their plan
    had been found out? The Jeffers went up to them during the signing and asked
    about the movie. The reporter from the Green Lawn Gazette told them the entire
    town would learn about their plan to trick the Spivets and Mr. Linkletter p.80
  2. What did Mrs. the businessmen’s names become when
    Mrs. Spivets rearranged the letters? Cheat, Liar and Crook p.83
  3. What did the kids receive from the Spivets as a
    thank you for saving the hotel? Three airline tickets to Florida, three
    tickets to Disneyworld and three $50 bills p.86

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #4 Sleepy Hollow Sleepover

Sleepy Hollow Sleepover

By Ron Roy

Grades 2-5; Genre – Fiction; GRL O; AR pts: 1.0

Third graders Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are spending Halloween in spooky Sleepy Hollow, New York, home of the Headless Horseman. They're going to sleep in an old cabin, take a haunted hayride, and tour the old Dutch church where people claim to have seen the legendary headless horseman. But strange things start happening that don’t seem to be part of the planned Halloween fun. Is there a real Headless Horseman haunting Sleepy Hollow?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What activity were the kids going to
    be doing that night? A haunted hayride and going to a party p.2
  2. Who’s the Headless Horseman? A fictional
    character from the story, “the Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” by Washington Irving;
    the story is about a teacher, Ichabod Crane. He liked a woman named Katrina. Brom
    Bones liked Katrina as well and didn’t want Ichabod to get her, so dressed up
    as the headless horseman to drive him out of town. He told people it was a
    ghost of a soldier who’d lost his head and looked for it at night p.4
  3. Who did Dink step on after watching
    the mechanical headless horseman? One man wearing cowboy boots with silver
    toes; his name was Ace p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Where were the kids sleeping? In a
    cabin Dink’s father rented called the Haunted House p.11
  2. What popped out of the chest when
    Dink opened it to get a game? A skeleton p.13
  3. Who did the kids see out the window? The
    Headless Horseman p.17

Chapter 3

  1. What was suspicious about the driver
    of the wagon? He had a hat, wouldn’t look at the kids, deep voice, he doesn’t
    talk to the kids, he smacked a tree to make the bats fly out and around the
    kids p.23
  2. What came out of the grave as the
    kids passed the cemetery? A zombie p.31
  3. Who did the zombie and wagon driver
    end up being? Police officers Klevor and Reilly p.34

Chapter 4

  1. What police officer was in charge of
    the pumpkin bowling? Officer Reilly p.41
  2. What did Dink see as he ran after his
    pumpkin? Two men wearing masks by the wagons and horses p.44
  3. What happened in the woods where the
    wagons were parked? A huge fire was started p.48

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Andy think the fire started? Another
    prank by the police p.52
  2. How did Officer Klevor know the fire
    was intentional? There were match books on the ground p.54
  3. What happened to the policeman’s car
    tires? They were flattened p.58

Chapter 6

  1. Why was Dink flustered? He was
    still bothered about the two men and the flashing shoes he saw just before the
    fire at the wagons was started p.61
  2. How many police cruisers came to
    rescue the kids? 4 p.64
  3. Who was out in the field with the
    burned wagons as Dink and his friends drove away? The police officer dressed
    up as a spaceman p.66

Chapter 7

  1. What was suspicious about the cabin
    when the kids were dropped off by Officer Sneke? Dink’s dad said he would
    wait up until the kids got there, but he wasn’t there. Ice cubes were in the lemonade,
    Dink’s dad’s book was left opened on the chair p.69
  2. Where was Dink’s dad? Hiding in the
    closet dressed as a ghost p.72
  3. What did Dink realize the other man could
    have been who was by the wagons before they were set on fire? It could have
    been Officer Klevor p.75

Chapter 8

  1. Where did the kids find Officer
    Klevor? At the bank p.81
  2. What happened to Bonnie at the bank? Two
    men came to her house, told her to get her coat and took her to the bank to
    open the vault.     She couldn’t open it and the men took money from the
    teller drawers p.81
  3. What was inside the mechanical horse’s
    belly? The money that was stolen from the bank p.87

Chapter 9

  1. Who did Ruth Rose call when they got
    stuck in the back of the truck with the mechanical horse? The police; 911
    p.91
  2. Why did Dink want to let money out of
    the bags while they were driving? People might see it and call the police;
    the driver may stop, and they could get away p.92
  3. What did the kids feel in the dark of
    the barn hole? A body tied up p.100

Chapter 10

  1. Who did the children free while in
    the hole? The man who was originally supposed to go pick up the mechanical
    horse p.102
  2. Why did Dink think his dad would call
    the police and come find them? When the bad guys found the kids in the back
    of the truck, Dink had pushed the green button to the cell phone which would
    automatically call his dad. Then his dad would have heard the conversation and
    know the kids were in danger p.104
  3. Why did the kids think Bonnie was in
    on the bank job? She led the police to think the robbers left at midnight
    and had an 8 hour lead and she could get the money out after the vault opened
    at 8 am p.107

Chapter 11

  1. How did Dink reach up and lift the slat
    that covers the hole? He stood on Hank’s shoulders p.112
  2. Why did Dink want a tin can? To prop
    open the piece of wood p.116
  3. Why did Dink want Ruth Rose’s knife? To
    make the tire flat p.116

Chapter 12

  1. How did Josh, Ruth Rose and Hank get
    out of the hole? Dink had seen a rope when he was on Hank’s shoulders and
    tied it to the bumper of the truck. Hank climbed out, then he pulled the kids
    out one by one p.120
  2. Who came to the rescue and helped
    Dink out of the hole? The police; Officer Klevor p.123
  3. Who ended up being the Headless Horseman the night the kids went to the
    party? They don’t know; it’s a mystery p.128

Comprehension Questions – A to Z Mysteries The Jaguar’s Jewel

The Jaguar’s Jewel

By Ron Roy

Grades 2-5; Genre – Mystery; GRL N; AR pts: 1.0

When the kids visit Dink’s uncle in New York City, they’re dazzled by his museum’s latest treasure – a statue of a gold jaguar with a precious emerald between its paws. But when the jewel is swapped for a fake, the police name Dink’s uncle as a suspect! It’s up to Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose to uncover the real crook. Who stole the jaguar’s jewel?

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe the setting of this story. New York
    City also called the Big Apple; very crowded, loud, and the feeling that everyone
    is rushing p.4
  2. What does Uncle Warren do for a living and
    what is he expecting? He owns a museum; A shipment from South America that
    is made of priceless gold p.8
  3. Who are Uncle Warren’s friends? Jean-Paul and
    his wife Yvonne p.10

Chapter 2

  1. What did Uncle Warren pull out of the crate? Several
    gold items; A golden drinking cup made by the Incas in the 1500’s and a golden jaguar
    with an emerald between its paws p.16
  2. Why did Uncle Warren put the golden items back
    in the crate and nail it closed? Dr. Pitts was going to be coming by the
    next day to check out the items and make sure they were in good order, so Uncle
    Warren wanted to keep everything safe and together p.18
  3. Who’s Roger? Uncle Warren’s apartment
    building doorman. He opens doors for tenants and whistles for taxis p.18

Chapter 3

  1. Where did Uncle Warren take the kids for dinner?
    A Chinese restaurant called the Panda Palace p.21
  2. Why did Uncle Warren and the kids throw money
    into a saxophone case? A man was playing the saxophone on the street and you
    throw money in if you like his playing p.23
  3. What was wrong with the jaguar? The emerald
    stone was a fake p.32

Chapter 4

  1. How did Dr. Pitts know the jewel was a fake? The
    light didn’t penetrate into the jewel it just bounced off of it p.35
  2. Why did Dr. Pitts look at the lock on the door
    and write something on a small pad of paper? He noticed something about the
    lock; that it hadn’t been forced open p.37
  3. Who are the suspects for the missing jewel? Jean-Paul,
    James Pride and Uncle Warren p.40

Chapter 5

  1. Why did Uncle Warren remind Dink to remember his
    cookie? His fortune cookie said his eyes would play tricks on him p.42
  2. What did Yvonne make for the kids while
    Uncle Warren was at the police station? Hot chocolate p.43
  3. What strange things happened in this chapter? Yvonne
    slipped through a door that disappeared into the wall; Ms. Wu went back to
    Uncle Warren’s office and left again; Dink remembered what his uncle said and
    found the key to the office in his pocket p.44

Chapter 6

  1. What was strange about the wall in Dr. Price’s
    office? It didn’t have any pictures or anything against it, it was just bare;
    it had hidden seams on it p.53
  2. What did Dink think was hidden in the wall? A
    secret door p.54
  3. Were the kids able to make the door open or find
    anything else? No p.56

Chapter 7

  1. What did Ruth Rose find in the fish tank? A glowing
    jewel stone; the emerald that’s supposed to be with the jaguar p.59
  2. What was the buzzing noise the kids heard? A VCR
    hidden in a secret compartment of the bookshelves p.62
  3. What was the conclusion after watching the tape?
    That Uncle Warren was the thief p.67

Chapter 8

  1. What did Josh realize happened to the letter
    opener? Before the lights went out it was facing the window; after the
    lights came back on, it was facing the other direction; someone had moved it p.69
  2. Who came into the office while the kids were
    there? Dr. Pitts p.72
  3. Where did the kids hide? In James’ office
    p.72

Chapter 9

  1. Who saved the kids when Dr. Pitts was coming
    into James’ office and where did she take them? Yvonne; to her restaurant
    through the secret passage p.76
  2. What did Josh realize would be on the letter
    opener? Dr. Pitts’ fingerprints p.77
  3. What did Yvonne want to do when she realized Ruth
    Rose had the jewel? Call the police p.78

Chapter 10

  1. Who was the real crook? Dr. Pitts p.79
  2. Why is there a secret passage between the office
    and Yvonne’s restaurant? It used to be a home and the servants would use it
    as a back-stairway p.82
  3. Who all played a part in solving the mystery?
    The kids, James with the camera, Yvonne saving the kids, Uncle Warren for giving
    the key to Dink and reminding him to remember his fortune cookie p.83