The Great Treehouse War
by Lisa Graff
Grades 3-7; Genre - Fiction; AR pts: 5.0
Winnie's last day of fourth grade ended with a pretty life-changing surprise. That was the day Winnie’s parents got divorced and decided that Winnie would live three days a week with each of them and spend Wednesdays by herself in a treehouse between their houses, to divide her time perfectly evenly. It was the day Winnie’s seed of frustration with her parents was planted, a seed that grew until it felt like it was as big as a tree itself.
By the end of fifth grade, Winnie decides that the only way to change things is to barricade herself in her treehouse until her parents come to their senses—and her friends decide to join. It’s kids vs. grown-ups, and no one wants to back down first. But with ten kids in one treehouse, all with their own demands, things get pretty complicated! Even if they are having the most epic slumber party ever.
Vocabulary
Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1
- Why was Winnie’s teacher, Mr. Benetto
curious about Winnie? She comes to school happy and outgoing on Thursdays,
but the rest of the week she’s quiet and reserved p.6
- What are Winnie’s parent’s names? Varun
and Alexis p.17
- Why would Winnie think her parents
were getting a divorce? They always fought p.14
- What are some other solutions Winnie’s
parents might have come up with instead of having Winnie live in a tree house? listen
to your child’s answers p.15
Chapter 2
- Why do you think Uncle Huck was so
good to Winnie? She was his niece; he had a special connection with her p.30
- Why was Thanksgiving so important to
Winnie’s family? That was the only holiday her family cared about and they
had a huge feast p.34
- What was the first holiday Winnie’s
mom decided to celebrate with her and why? Flag Day; to be better than Winnie’s
father; to win Winnie’s favor p.35
- Can you answer Mr. Benetto’s inquiry
about why Winnie comes to school so happy on Thursday now? Explain. Yes,
because she’s in her tree house alone with no holidays or pressure from her
parents p.38
Chapter 3
- How did Mr. B. start off his conversation
with Winnie? He asked her if everything was all right at home p.49
- Why did Mr. B. talk to Winnie instead
of her parents? Her parents were difficult and wouldn’t come to talk to Mr.
B. if the other one was there p.52
- Why was Winnie failing 5th
grade and what did she have to do to pass? 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 p.54
Chapter 4
- Why didn’t Winnie want to tell her
friends about her problems at first? Didn’t want to think about it and wanted
to focus on happier things p.60
- Why did the friends wait to eat cupcakes
at lunch? Squizzy wanted to wait for Winnie p.60
- Why was Squizzy grounded from reading
books? She needed to get her grades up p.70
- Why would the next school year be so
different than the previous ones? The kids are going to middle school p.74
Chapter 5
- Where was Winnie’s father planning on
taking her for the summer? Kansas to study grouse feces p.90
- Why was Winnie upset about her mother’s
idea of spending Wednesdays with her? That’s Winnie’s alone time and she
loves it p.93
- Explain why Winnie’s parents aren’t
doing the holiday celebrations for her, but for themselves. They don’t
really care about Winnie’s feelings or grades and are more concerned about
being the better, more fun parent p.94
- Predict what the letter stuck to the
book said. Listen to your child’s answers p.96
Chapter 6
- Describe Winnie’s plan. 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. P.106
- Why did Winnie come up with this
plan? To get her parents to stop being selfish and begin listening to her
p.106
- Predict what Winnie’s parents will do
when they read about her plan. Listen to your child’s answers p.108
Part II
Chapter 7
- Why do Winnie’s parents feel like everything
has to be even? They don’t want the other parent to be better than them p.114
- What did Winnie demand since both of
her parents wanted to talk to her? They both climb up the ladder and talk to
her together p.116
Chapter 8
- Why wouldn’t Winnie want her friends
to stay in the treehouse? She wanted to get her report finished p.125
- Who joined Winnie in the treehouse? The
Tulip Street Ten p.126
- What did the kids in the treehouse write
to their parents? Their demands; what it will take to get them to come down from
the treehouse p.142
Chapter 9
- Why were there so many reporters and cameramen
gathered around the treehouse? They were all curious and thought this story would
make a great headline p.145
- What did Uncle Huck want when he came
to visit? To check on Winnie and to show support p.149
- Do you feel Winnie’s demand for her
parents is reasonable? Why or why not? Listen to your child’s answers p.153
- How did other parents around the
world feel about the treehouse war? They thought the kids were brats and
that the parents should hold out and not give the kids what they want p.156
Chapter 10
- Describe what’s going on with the war
at the beginning of this chapter? Parents aren’t giving in to the demands
and the kids are confused p.163
- Create your own strategy of how the
parents could get the kids to give up and come down. Listen to your child’s
thoughts p.164
- Explain why the sleepover wasn’t as
fun as when it first started? The kids are all tired and grumpy p.178
- Why couldn’t the kids just leave and
go home when they wanted to? They wouldn’t have their demands met and they
knew they’d lose the war p.178
Chapter 11
- Do you agree with Lyle or Squizzy?
Explain. Listen to your child’s answers p.190
- Why couldn’t Winnie pick a side? She
agreed with both of their opinions and didn’t want to hurt either of their
feelings p.191
- What was the new war created in the treehouse?
Squizzy supporters were against Lyle’s supporters and all were against
Winnie since she wouldn’t choose a side p.194
Chapter 12
- Why was it important for Winnie to
escape to Uncle Huck’s? she needed to finish her report and got to talk to
Uncle Huck about everything p.203
Part III
Chapter 13
- Why did Winnie think she couldn’t
communicate very well? No one listened to her p.209
- Why did Winnie need to fix everything
quickly? Someone was hired to find a loophole in the law and stop the war
p.212
Chapter 14
- Summarize what happened in this
chapter. Winnie took her uncle’s advice, looked at her friends with her Artist
Vision and realized what was really going on with her friends p.218
Chapter 15
- Who did Winnie write letters to and
why? 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 p.226
Chapter 16
- Why was Winnie happy to be alone? It’s
quiet p.244
- Why weren’t Winnie’s friends made at
her? They got what they needed, and the demands weren’t important anymore
p.248
- What favor did Lyle do for Winnie? Wrote
notes to her parents p.256
Chapter 17
- How was Winnie able to get through to
her parents? She respectfully kept talking and trying to explain until they
started to listen p.260
Chapter 18
- How have Winnie’s parents grown and changed?
They don’t fight anymore, aren’t competitive or selfish, and they respect
Winnie’s wishes p.271
- What were the kids going to do with
the treehouse? Make it fun for all kids and allow them to come hang out on
Wednesdays p.280