The Dollhouse Murders

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

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. Who does Ellen claim is visiting her, causing her to cancel her plans with Amy?

2. What does Amy find in Grandma and Grandpa Treloar’s attic, comparing it to a four-leaf clover?

3. Where was Aunt Clare living before she lost her job?

Short Answer

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

1. Why is Amy concerned about maintaining her friendship with Ellen? What evidence might exist in the novel supporting Amy’s concern?

2. What does Louann do to cause Amy to believe she is difficult?

Paired Resource

“What Is Symbolism?”

• This 1-minute video from Chungdahm Learning explores the use of symbols in literature.
• Shared themes include Different Kinds of Abilities and Their Value.
• What symbol is used in this video to explain symbolism? Why might symbols take on different meanings depending on the context? What symbols might occur in The Dollhouse Murders?

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. What does Louann ask Amy to take to Aunt Clare’s house?

2. What do Amy and Ellen play with at Aunt Clare’s house?

3. What event does Aunt Clare plan to host for Ellen and Amy?

Short Answer

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

1. Why is Amy relieved when arrangements have been made for her to stay with Aunt Clare?

2. What causes Amy to feel spooked by the dollhouse?

3. Why do Amy and Aunt Clare disagree on the care of Louann? What arguments do the two make to support their viewpoint?

Paired Resource

“How to Promote Independence”

• This video from CareChannel explores the importance of independence in caregiving situations.
• Shared themes include Different Kinds of Abilities and Their Value, Guilt as a Growth Obstacle, and Coming of Age Means Facing One’s Problems.
• Why might it be important to support independence in individuals who are dependent on caregivers? What strategies might be used to assist those who are dependent on others? Is it detrimental to individuals to do too much for them? How might this video apply to a variety of different caregiving positions?

Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. Who is Amy keeping her birthday party secret from?

2. Who does Amy tell when she discovers the fate of her grandparents?

Short Answer

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

1. Why must Amy discover for herself what happened to Grandma and Grandpa Treloar? What does she do to find the information, and what does she discover?

2. What is Aunt Clare’s reaction when she learns Amy has discovered what happened to her grandparents? Why might Aunt Clare react this way?

3. What events occur that cause Amy additional unease in Aunt Clare’s house?

Chapters 10-12

Reading Check

1. What does Amy accidentally mention to Louann?

2. What reason is given for Louann’s presence at the birthday party?

3. What is brought to Amy’s party that Amy considers to be a peace offering for Louann’s presence?

Short Answer

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

1. What changes have been made in Louann’s routine when Amy returns to her home, and how does Amy feel about this?

2. What does Amy discover each time she goes to retrieve a blanket from the attic?

Paired Resource

How Does Setting Contribute to a Story?

• This 6-minute video from Oregon State University explores the role of setting within a story.
• Shared themes include Guilt as a Growth Obstacle and Coming of Age Means Facing One’s Problem.
• What is the impact of a story’s setting on the characters? What kind of information can be derived from a setting? How does the setting of Wright’s novel contribute to the narrative? Why might the Treloar house be an important aspect of the novel?

Chapters 13-15

Reading Check

1. Who does Louann make friends with at Amy’s party?

2. Where do the girls spend the day following Amy’s party?

Short Answer

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

1. How does Amy come to terms with Louann’s presence at her birthday party and what does she apologize to Aunt Clare for?

2. What happens to the dollhouse on the night of Amy’s party, and what is Louann’s reaction to it?

3. How does Amy work up the courage to tell Aunt Clare about the dollhouse, and why is Aunt Clare reluctant to believe it?

Paired Resource

How to Create Suspense

• This 5-minute video from Ted-Ed explores ways in which writers create suspense.
• Shared themes include Coming of Age Means Facing One’s Problems and Different Kinds of Abilities and Their Value.
• Why is an omniscient viewpoint less than ideal when writing suspense? What is the impact of setting on creating suspense? How might sentence structure contribute to tension in a narrative? What is a cliffhanger? How does Wright create suspense in The Dollhouse Murders?

Chapters 16-19

Reading Check

1. Who does Aunt Clare believe murdered Grandma and Grandpa Treloar?

2. What new character is found in the dollhouse on the night of the thunderstorm?

Short Answer

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

1. What clue leads Amy to discover what happened to Grandma and Grandpa Treloar and who committed the murder?

2. Why is Aunt Clare relieved to discover who murdered Grandma and Grandpa Treloar?

3. What happens to the dolls after the murder is solved and what does it mean?

Recommended Next Reads

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

• This ghost story is about a recently blended family that encounters problems when their stepsibling threatens the family with retribution from an unknown girl named Helen.
• Shared themes include Coming of Age Means Facing One’s Problems, Different Kinds of Abilities and Their Value, and Guilt as a Growth Obstacle.
• Shared topics include familial bonds, friendship, and the emotional toll of death.
• Wait Till Helen Comes on SuperSummary

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

• This novel is about a girl who steps into an alternate universe that is an idyllic version of her own world.
• Shared themes include Coming of Age Means Facing One’s Problems and Guilt as a Growth Obstacle.
• Shared topics include the importance of family, first impressions not always being as they seem, and spooky plots.
• Coraline on SuperSummary