A STUDY GUIDE FOR A FAMILY APART
Joan Lowery Nixon
Directions: Answer the vocabulary and comprehension questions in your Reader’s Notebook. You must use complete sentences to receive full credit.
Chapter 1, pages 1-5
relieve(2) prickles(3) Orphan Train(4) cedar chest(3)
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why are Jennifer and Jeff at Grandma Briley’s home in northwest Missouri?
2. What does their grandmother suggest the teenagers do to relieve their boredom?
3. Who was Frances Mary Kelly and how did she get from New York City to Missouri?
Chapter 2, pages 6-21
cab(6) precariously(7) vigorously(9) balustrade(12) curlicues(13)
davenport(14) sentinels(16) pulverized(16) subsided(18) haberdasheries(19)
teemed(19) tenements(19) carbon copy(20)
Comprehension Questions:
4. Why is life difficult for the Kelly family?
5. List the Kelly children and their ages.
6. How would describe Frances? What kind of person is she?
7. How does Ma depend on Frances and Megan for help?
Chapter 3, pages 22-36
piecework(23) dime novel(23) infectious grin(24) ragpicker(26) pallet(26) copper stealer(32) indignation(33) tentatively(35) shriveled(36)
Comprehension Questions:
8. Describe Mike and Danny.
9. How does Ma support the family? How do her children help her do this?
10. Who is Mara Robi and why is Frances worried about her?
11. Who is Charles Loring Brace? How does he help Mara?
12. Why does Mike become a copper stealer?
Chapter 4, pages 37-50
urgency(39) indignation(39) accusation(42) ragamuffins(43) winced(45) wholesome(48)
Comprehension Questions:
1. How does the suspense build in this chapter?
2. What decision does the judge make?
3. Why does Reverend Brace speak up for the Kelly family in court?
4. What does Ma tell the judge?
5. How do the children react to Ma’s decision?
6. Do you think Ma was right to do what she did?
Chapter 5, pages 51-62
smattering(58) distressed(61) reassured(62) reeking(62)
paddle wheeler(62) recede(62)
Comprehension Questions:
1. When did the Kelly children realize they would be separated?
2. What did Frances do to increase the chance that she and Petey would not be separated?
3. How did Mrs. Minton prepare the children for their journey?
4. Who were Andrew McNair and Katherine Banks?
5. How did the children leave New York City? What would be their first stop?
Chapter 6, pages 63-72
conical(63) bristled(64) jumble(65) captor(70)
Comprehension Questions:
1. Where did the children board the train?
2. What was the train car like?
3. What sights surprised the children?
4. What was the Fugitive Slave Act?
5. What did bounty hunters do?
Chapter 7, pages 73-86
appraising(73) brushfire(75) urchins(74) trestles(77) lurched(74) subdued(86)
clustered(86)
Comprehension Questions:
1. How did Mike resolve the conflict on the train?
2. Describe the event that made the conductor stop the train?
3. What concerns did the Kelly children have as they journeyed west?
4. Where did the children change trains (name two cities)?
5. How did Mike fool the outlaws?
Chapter 8, pages 87-93
wistfully(87) aloft(90) prominent(88) taunts(91) distracted(90) homespun(91)
Comprehension Questions:
1. How did Andrew arrange the “placing-out” of the children?
2. How did Captain Taylor praise Mike? What encouragement does he give Mike?
3. Describe Bill Cody.
4. What was St. Joseph like?
5. If you were to draw a picture of the Kelly children waiting to be adopted, what would their facial expressions and body language look like?
Chapters 1-8 quiz with Vocabulary will be on May 8th
A STUDY GUIDE FOR A FAMILY APART
Joan Lowery Nixon
Chapter 9, pages 94-108
bribery(103) sensibility(106)
jaunty(95) commotion(101)
solemnly(97)
Comprehension Questions:
1. Explain how the Kelly children behaved as they were introduced to their new families?
2. What did Frankie do to reassure her younger brothers and sisters?
3. Where did each of the Kelly children go?
4. Do you think they will have good homes? Why or why not?
Chapter 10, pages 109-126
lilt(112)-- orator(118)—
dubious(115)-- burrowed(125)
bustled (117)-- suppressing(126)—
Comprehension Questions:
1. Describe Mr. and Mrs. Cummings.
2. Why did they move to the Kansas Territory?
3. Explain how the visiting children treated Frankie and Petey?
4. Is Frankie reassured? Why or why not?
Chapter 11, pages 127-137
grudgingly(130) contemptuously(129) wary(131) chagrined(136)
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why did Marshal Dawson visit the Cummings?
2. Who were the men with Marshal Dawson? What does the behavior of the three men tell you about their characters?
3. How did the men describe the runaway slaves?
4. What chores are Frankie and Petey given?
5. How does Margaret help the children learn?
6. What clues are given to help you predict what will happen? Provide one example of textual evidence for support.
Chapter 12, pages 138-148
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why did the Cummings’ adopt Frankie and Petey?
2. What did Jake teach Frankie to do?
3. Who did Frankie discover in the barn?
4. What risks did Frankie take?
5. What event terrified Frankie as she made the trip north?
Chapter 13, pages 149-162
stern(156) scornfully(150 abolitionists(157) muddle(152)
Comprehension Questions:
1. How does Frances come to understand the meaning of sacrifice?
2. What happens after the bounty hunters find the shawl?
3. How did Katherine Banks discover that Frankie was really a girl?
4. How did Katherine “trick” Marshal Dawson?
5. How did Jake and Margaret react when they learned that Frankie was a girl?
**Final Test on May 16, 2017**
Chapter 13, pages 149-162
stern(156) scornfully(150 abolitionists(157) muddle(152)
Comprehension Questions:
1. How does Frances come to understand the meaning of sacrifice?
2. What happens after the bounty hunters find the shawl?
3. How did Katherine Banks discover that Frankie was really a girl?
4. How did Katherine “trick” Marshal Dawson?
5. How did Jake and Margaret react when they learned that Frankie was a girl?
**Final Test on May 16, 2017**