The Boxcar Children: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Boxcar Children · meeting 1 of 2

Read: Part One, “The Flight”; Part Two, “Hiding” (pages 1–8, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 8, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did the children run away at night?
   The story's answer: They did not want to be sent to their grandfather
2. Where did they sleep the first day?
   The story's answer: In a haystack
3. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
4. The part we just read is called "Hiding". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
5. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 The Boxcar Children · meeting 2 of 2

Read: Part Three, “The Boxcar”; Part Four, “A Home” (pages 9–20, about 7 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 20, the end of the story.

1. Why did Jess say, "Let's live here!" about the freight car?
   The story's answer: It was dry and near water
2. How did Jess help the dog?
   The story's answer: She took the thorn out of his paw
3. What does the story show about the four children?
   The story's answer: They work together and make a home from very little
4. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
5. The part we just read is called "A Home". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
6. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. Which character changed the most from the beginning to the end?
   Listen for: Ask what changed them.
2. Which scene would you put on the poster if this were a film?
   Listen for: A way to find the scene that mattered most to each reader.
3. Is there a line or a moment you will remember? Why that one?
   Listen for: Let readers find it in the book and read it aloud.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.