The Tower Treasure: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Tower Treasure · meeting 1 of 3

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

1. What did Fenton Hardy teach his sons about being a detective?
   The story's answer: To notice and remember little things
2. 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.
3. The part we just read is called "The Speed Demon". 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.
4. 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 Tower Treasure · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “The Robbery”; Part Three, “A Dying Man's Words” (pages 6–12, about 7 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 12, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did the two witnesses disagree about the thief's hair?
   The story's answer: The thief had taken off a wig
2. Why did Mr. Applegate suspect Henry Robinson?
   The story's answer: He knew the combination and had suddenly paid off a loan he could not explain
3. The brothers' friends made the chief miss his train. Why did they do it?
   The story's answer: To keep him from spoiling Jackley's confession
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 Dying Man's Words". 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. 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 Tower Treasure · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “The Old Tower” (pages 13–17, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 17, the end of the story.

1. What did Jackley mean by "the old tower"?
   The story's answer: A water tower beside the railroad, where he used to work
2. 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.
3. The part we just read is called "The Old Tower". 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.
4. 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.