Storm Runners

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

Chapters 1-10

Reading Check

1. What happens to Chase’s father when he gets the tools in the backyard?

2. What is “the Shack”?

3. In which sport does Nicole Rossi compete?

4. Where does Momma Rossi believe Hurricane Emily will strike?

5. How are Chase’s mom and the hurricane connected?

Short Answer

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

1. How does Chase feel about fate?

2. What kind of games do Chase and his dad play as they drive from place to place?

3. Who is Tomás?

4. What kind of animals does the Rossi farm keep?

5. How is Chase’s bag important?

Paired Resource

“Free Will vs. Determinism: Can You Escape Fate?”

• Meghan Griffith, a philosophy professor, examines determinism and free will. (Subscription may be required for viewing.)
• This source connects to the theme of The Irony of Fate.
• What do you think Chase’s father would say about the claims in this article?

“Disasters and Your Family: Be Prepared”

• The American Academy of Pediatrics offers tips on how to work as a family to prepare for a disaster.
• The resource connects to the themes of The Value of Preparedness and The Importance of Working Together.
• How does Chase’s dad help Chase prepare for a disaster?

Chapters 11-18

Reading Check

1. Where do Chase’s dad and the news think Hurricane Emily will hit land?

2. Who are the last three students on the bus?

3. What does Chase see outside the window when the school bus crashes and sinks in the water?

4. How far are the three kids from Nicole’s home when the bus crashes?

Short Answer

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

1. Why is the bus to school half empty?

2. Why does Chase get on the school bus after school despite his misgivings?

3. How does Chase demonstrate his preparedness for disasters?

4. When does Chase put others ahead of himself?

Paired Resource

“What to Do Before the Tropical Storm or Hurricane”

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends ways to prepare before a storm.
• The resource connects to the themes of The Value of Preparedness and The Importance of Working Together.
• What preparations has Chase taken?

“New Interpretation of Darwin’s Theory: Friendliness and Cooperation Is the Most Successful Strategy in Survival”

• This Science Times article unpacks a book about how cooperation helps a species survive.
• The resource connects to the theme of The Importance of Working Together.
• Where do characters survive by working together?

Chapters 19-37

Reading Check

1. When Chase, Nicole, and Rashawn see what they think is a 13-foot log blocking the road, what is it?

2. Where does Hurricane Emily make landfall?

3. How do Rashawn and Chase tell Nicole they are safely back on land?

4. What documentary does Cindy start filming?

5. What do Chase, Nicole, and Rashawn see running on the farm?

6. Who do the three friends find safe in the barn?

Short Answer

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

1. How does the hurricane affect the levee road?

2. Why do Cindy and Mark drive north with James and Tomás even though it could get them in trouble?

3. How does Rashawn fall into the water?

4. What is different between Richard’s online persona and his genuine personality?

5. How does Nicole make it back to shore?

6. What is the eye of the hurricane like?

Recommended Next Reads 

Peak by Roland Smith and Paul Young

• At 14, Peak has already been arrested for climbing a skyscraper. His father offers him an alternative to a detention center: moving to Thailand. Once there, Peak and his father set their sights on scaling Mount Everest, facing dangers and realizations along the way.
• Shared themes include The Value of Preparedness and The Importance of Working Together.
• Shared topics include nature, danger, friendship, helping others, adventure, media, and family.
• Peak on SuperSummary

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

• When Lucy leads her siblings through a wardrobe into a magical world, the four must escape the evil queen making it always winter but never Christmas. They meet many friends along the way, including the great lion Aslan, the leader of Narnia.
• Shared themes include The Value of Preparedness and The Importance of Working Together.
• Shared topics include family, adventure, danger, friendship, bravery, choices, sacrifice, and trust.
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on SuperSummary