The School Story

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-6

Reading Check

1. What is the name of Natalie’s book?

2. What does Natalie choose as her pseudonym?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What made Natalie decide to talk to her mother more?

2. Why did Natalie hide some of her books after her father’s death?

3. Why doesn’t Natalie want to choose a pen name at first?

Paired Resource

Famous Authors and Their Pen Names

• This article covers several famous authors who used pseudonyms and their reasons for doing so.
• This resource relates to the Honesty Versus Deceit theme.
• What are the reasons some writers choose to use pen names? How can a pen name change the way an author’s work is received by the public? What is the reason Natalie chooses a pen name?

Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. Who is Letha Springfield?

2. What name does Zoe choose for her agent persona?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Natalie feel like the slush pile is unfair to writers?

2. Aside from believing that it’s good, why does Zoe want to get Natalie’s book published?

3. What causes Natalie to have a change of heart about going with Zoe’s plan?

Paired Resource

"The Night Where You No Longer Live”

• This short poem by Meghan O’Rourke expresses the loss of a parent and questions in the mind of the speaker. (Sensitivity Warning: death of a parent)
• This resource relates to the theme of The Effects of Loss.
• How does losing a parent at a young age impact someone? Zoe describes Natalie’s book as “a good-bye poem from Natalie to her father” (55). In what way is Natalie’s book an exploration of her feelings about her father’s death?

Chapters 10-12

Reading Check

1. Who is Ms. Clayton?

2. What does Zoe change her agent name to?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Ms. Clayton reluctant to help the Natalie and Zoe?

2. What does Zoe do to convince Ms. Clayton to continue to help?

3. How does helping Natalie and Zoe make Ms. Clayton feel?

Paired Resource

A Guide for Teachers Publishing Student Work

• Teacher-appropriate (not student-facing)
• This guide reviews the benefits of encouraging students to publish their work as a motivational tool for quality writing and presents resources for teachers.

Chapters 13-15

Reading Check

1. How does Natalie know her mom has listened to Zee Zee Reisman’s message?

2. When does Hannah agree to call Zee Zee Reisman back about the book?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Letha help Natalie’s manuscript get looked at?

2. Why is Hannah worried about telling Natalie about the book?

3. What does the title of Chapter 15, “A New Island,” refer to?

Paired Resource

“Teen Author Lands Big Book Deal”

• A news segment about a boy who wrote his own book, found a literary agent, and got his work published
• This resource relates to the theme of The Power of Positive Thinking and Perseverance.
• How does having an agent make a difference for writers trying to get their work published? How did teen author Jake Marcionette’s perseverance help him find an agent? How are Jake and Natalie similar? How are they different? 

Chapters 16-18

Reading Check

1. Who leaves a message for Zee Zee Reisman on Wednesday?

2. Who does Zoe send the manuscript to in Chapter 17?

3. Who does Natalie get to sign her affidavit?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Hannah so upset about Letha taking her assignment?

2. What does Ms. Clayton mean when she tells Zoe to “play some poker”? (124)

3. Why is Ms. Clayton nervous when Zoe’s father calls her?

Paired Resource

“What Adults Can Learn from Kids”

• An 8-minute TED Talk from 12-year-old Adora Svitak explaining how kids have unique perspectives and are more capable than adults sometimes think.
• The speaker briefly discusses her experience getting her own book published.
• What points does Adora make about children’s voices, perspectives, and experiences? How does this relate to Mr. Reisman attitude about Zoe and Natalie’s endeavor and Ms. Clayton’s involvement?

Chapters 19-20

Reading Check

1. What does Natalie get in the mail after finishing her revising and editing?

2. How does Zoe get Natalie and Ms. Clayton to visit the publishing company?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does the editing process bring Natalie and her mother closer together even though Natalie’s identity is concealed?

2. How does the presence of the news at the publishing party help the main characters?

3. Why does Natalie believe Zoe deserves a larger share of the book’s royalties?

Recommended Next Reads 

Frindle by Andrew Clements

• This novel by The School Story’s author features a fifth-grade boy who pursues his creative whims and creates something much larger than he could have imagined.
• A shared idea is the differing perspectives of children and adults.
• This novel is a “school story.”
• Frindle on SuperSummary

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

• This magical realism novel is about a sixth-grade girl on a mission to break a curse and restore magic to a small town.
• Shared topics include absent fathers and the power of friendship.
• A Snicker of Magic on SuperSummary