Charlie Bone and the Time Twister
by Jenny Nimmo
Grades 3-7; Genre - Fantasy; GRL U; AR pts. 9.0
Back at Bloor's Academy after Christmas vacation, Charlie finds himself confronted with a new problem when young Henry Yewbeam, who vanished during a game of marbles in 1916, suddenly appears and needs help to find his family.
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- Summarize the introduction to this story. Henry and James are brothers; Henry made his cousin Zeke angry, and Zeke caused Henry to travel forward in time leaving his younger brother; three cats came to James and made him warm and safe; they led him to where Henry disappeared; James learned his brother is gone but has the cats to protect him p.1
Chapter 2
- Describe Charlie. Descendent of James; can hear voices from photographs; goes to Bloor’s Academy; his family has powers; lives with his mom, both grandmas and uncle; his friend is Benjamin p.19
Chapter 3
- Predict what was happening at the end of this chapter. Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 4
- Explain what made Henry sad at the end of this chapter? Why? He didn’t think he could go back home; the elements that existed when he time travelled were gone, and without the circumstances being the same, he couldn’t go back in time p.70
Chapter 5
- Describe what Olivia did to give Charlie 5 minutes. She spilled a tray of food right in front of the door so Asa and Manfred couldn’t leave the cafeteria p.86
Chapter 6
- Summarize this chapter. Charlie found Henry in the kitchen and they thought if Henry went into the freezer, the temperature would be just right to send Henry back; Charlie tried to open the door to the freezer and couldn’t; Cook found him and got Henry out; the Flames brought Henry back and Charlie knew Cook was more than what he initially thought; Blessed, the dog, came in the kitchen and Cook sent Charlie to bed; Cook told Blessed he better not tell anyone about the room or Henry or she wouldn’t take care of him anymore p.92
Chapter 7
- Why did Charlie take Gabriel to Cook’s special room? Charlie thought Cook could help Gabriel p.135
Chapter 8
- Predict how Charlie is going to get to Tancred? Listen to your child answer
Chapter 9
- Were you correct in your prediction? Listen to your child’s answer
- Describe what happened when Charlie and his friends went to the Thunder House? Tancred locked himself in his room and his father wouldn’t let the boys in p.177
Chapter 10
- Describe the Yewbeam sisters. Mean, manipulative, selfish; Charlie’s grandma and aunts p.184
Chapter 11
- Summarize Uncle Paton’s experiment. During the day, Charlie and Benjamin walked with his uncle while he was reading a book, to take his mind off of bursting light bulbs; when they got to the pet cafe, Asa showed up outside the window, but Uncle Paton continued to concentrate; the only mishap was when Paton stopped reading because he was disappointed p.218
Chapter 12
- Describe the journey Henry had after he was taken from his cousin Zeke. He was led to the old castle and into the courtyard, down a passage that led downward; it was heavy with must and came out onto grass; Zelda opened a pit and Henry was pushed in p.240
Chapter 13
- Why can’t Billy trust Blessed anymore? Blessed didn’t tell him where Henry was p.267
Chapter 14
- Describe Emma. Endowed; goes to the same school as Charlie; has a special power with birds and can turn into them; lives with her aunt p.282
Chapter 15
- Summarize this chapter. Olivia sneaks out and finds Henry; she’s attacked by Zelda and Beth, but Emma, as the Tollroc, saves her; they tell Charlie and Fidelio what happened and Charlie goes to visit Skarpo in the painting p.288
- Predict what will happen when Charlie visits Skarpo. Listen to your child’s answer
Chapter 16
- Summarize what happened in the painting. Charlie went in and spoke with Skarpo; Skarpo wanted to help Charlie hurt someone, but Charlie wanted help rescuing Henry; Charlie saw the wand and took it, Skarpo tried to stop him, and Lysander’s ancestor’s spirits helped Charlie; Charlie came out of the painting p.307
Chapter 17
- Describe the plan to free Henry? Go to the Pets Cafe, take a tunnel to the ruin, bring Henry back to the Pets Cafe, Uncle Paton and Charlie will take Henry someplace safe that only Uncle Paton knows p.336
Chapter 18
Summarize this chapter. Charlie and Fidelio get Henry out of the dungeon, but Henry had to stay in the tunnel due to Dr. Bloor and Charlie’s aunts and grandma watching him; Tancred created a storm; Charlie and Uncle Paton will try and get Henry around 10:00pm p.338
Chapter 19
- Why do you think will Henry be safe from his enemies? They think he went with Mrs. Bloor back in time p.372
Chapter 20
- Summarize the life Henry will have by the sea? He’ll live with his brother and go to school p.391
Chapter 21
- Summarize the ending to this story. Charlie hopes his dad will come home; there was a celebration for Paton’s birthday; all of Charlie’s friends and their parents came to celebrate p.395