Prediction for the end of the book!

We will not be able to finish this novel, so I want to know how you think it will end. Please write a 3 to 5 sentence summary of what you think will happen to Thomas, his family, Mr. Pluto, and the ghost (if there even is a ghost!)

Please remember to use capitals and complete sentences.

Chapter 7 and 8 Discussion Questions

Answer each question in complete sentences. This is independent work.

1) Why was Pluto intimidating?

2) Why did Pluto say he had chased Thomas?

3) Why do you think Mr. Small was questioning Pluto about the horses?

4) Clue: Mr. Pluto's gloves. Why were they important? Why do people wear gloves?

5) Why do you think Thomas's mother offered him coffee? When have your parents treated you as an adult?

6) Why did Thomas ask his mother about how she felt about living in the house of Dies Drear and what she thought about going back home?

7) What did Thomas not like about his room?

8) Why did Thomas decide to sleep downstairs?

9) What additional clues to the mystery are in this chapter?

10) Who do you think the mysterious visitor is?

Chapter 7 and 8 Vocabulary

Everyone will be given one word to look up. You will each post a comment that contains the following:

1) a definition in your own words
2) a synonym
3) an antonym
4) the word used in a sentence

Follow my example if you get confused. I did 'vapor' for you.

Liz - gerfalcon
Native - agitated
Tristan - garret
Noah - ornate
Jacob - cordial
Branden - specter
Martin - charred
Christopher - lapsed
Tanner - shifty
Mason - rigid
Josh - cumbersome
Tachsia - massive
Yara - spasm
Jason - treading
Justin - stealthily

Chapter 5 and 6 Discussion Questions

Answer all these questions in complete sentences with correct capitalization. You may talk with a partner, but you must post your own comment.


1) Why had the tunnels and secret passageways been developed?

2) Why was Thomas so frightened? How would you have acted and felt if you were in that tunnel?

3) What did Thomas think the noise was? What do you think it was?

4) Why do you think Mr. Small removed the panel mechanism?

5) Why do you think Thomas was angry with Mr. Pluto?

6) Why had Dies Drear developed the tunnels?

7) Why did Thomas go exploring?

8) What descriptions did the author use to make this a scary section? If you were Thomas, would you have continued? Why or why not?

9) What did Thomas discover about Pluto? Why do you think Pluto tried to scare Thomas?

Chapter 5 and 6 Vocabulary

In partners, look at the Vocabulary words on page 15. Each word has the page number where the word is located. Make a chart similar to the one in my example. One column should read "What I think" and the other column should read "Definition".

Turn to the page number for the first vocab word: Jowls. Try to guess the meaning of the word from the context of its paragraph. Write your guess under the column "What I Think". Once you have made a context clue guess for every word, use an online dictionary to look up the correct definition for the words. Write the definition in the column "Definition".

When both columns are filled in for each word, you may post your comment.

Chapter 3 and 4 Discussion Questions

Please answer the discussion question that you have been assigned. This is an independent task. Post your answer as a comment. Use complete sentences and capitalization.

When you finish answering your question, turn to workbook page 10. Choose a character of your choice and fill in the web. Use page numbers from the book to support your answers.

Yara and Blaize:
1) The house of Dies Drear is like a character in the novel. When a non-living object is given human qualities, it is called personification. Find 3 examples of personification of the house in chapter 3.

Liz and Tristan:
2) Tristan compares the house to a castle which is under seige. Who so you think is the king of the house and why?

Noah and Branden:
3) Why do you think Mr. Pluto arranged the furniture? Why do you think this disturbed Thomas and his dad?

Tachsia and Martin:
4) What unusual thing did Thomas find on the front door? What do you think is unusual about this?

Justin and Mason:
5) Why did the twins cry while Thomas was pushing the button? What did they see that Thomas did not?

Josh and Christine:
6) How did Thomas meet the Darrow children?

Jacob and Christopher:
7) What frightening thing did M.C. Darrow tell about the black hole?

Tanner:
8) How did Thomas land in the black hole?

Chapter 3 and 4 Vocabulary

Look at the vocab words at the top of page 12. I will give each pair of you 2 or 3 words to define. Using the novel, your own mind, or an online dictionary find the CORRECT definition for each word. As a pair, create a comment that has your 3 words and the definitions - BUT do not post it. You will share with the rest of the class your definitions, and then record what others found. After you have a definition for every word, you may post your comment.

Chapter One Vocabulary

Using the list at the top of page 8, and all your new knowledge from our class discussion, create a comment that lists all the words and their definitions in your own words.

Chapter One Discussion Questions

Please post your answers to the discussion questions on page 8 and 9 as a comment to this post. Use complete sentences and correct capitalization.