Name __________________________________ Block________English 9

Shattering GlassReading Guide

Part 1, Chapters 1-7

Chapter 1:1. From the first paragraph, what does the reader immediately discover will happen to Simon Glass?

2. Describe the appearance of Simon Glass.

3. Who is Coop? Describe his personality.

4. Describe Bob’s personality.

5. Describe Rob Haynes.

6. Who is Lance Ansley? What kind of person does he seem to be?

7. How does Lance treat Simon in Chapter 1?

8. How did the other students react to Lance’s antics?

9. How does Rob try to help Simon? What does this say about his character?

10. At the end of Chapter 1 (p. 6) Rob states “He blew it,”……”Not Glass. Lance.” What do you think he means by this?

Chapter 21. Who do we discover is the narrator of the book?

2. What kind of person is Young Steward? Describe him.

3. What is Young’s full name?

4. Describe how Rob gets the substitute to forget about the test. What does this tell you about Rob’s character?

5. After the incident with the sub and the vocabulary test, Young said, “Even when I allowed myself a fleeting suspicion that Rob was wrong, he made so much sense that I had to follow his lead. We all followed. He made it easy.” What does that statement suggest?

6. What is Rob’s “plan” for Simon, as described in Chapter 2?

Chapter 3:1. In the introduction quote, who do you think helped Coop? And, how do you think Coop was helped?

2. Chapter 3 is all about Coop. What is his house like?

3. What is Coop’s father like?

4. Where is Coop’s mother? What is she like?

5. What is Coop’s biggest fear in life?

Chapter 4:1. Initially, how does Simon react to Rob’s attention?

Chapter 5:1. What warning about Rob did you find in Blair Crews’ introduction quote?

2. Why was Rob the “leader of the pack?”

3. What did Blair say was the difference between Young’s and Simon’s reaction to Rob’s attention?

4. The paragraph on p.25, Young expresses some feelings of uneasiness about Simon. Do you think Simon is hiding something? If so, what?

5. How does Rob make Simon feel more confident at the end of the chapter (what statement does he make)?

6. What reaction does Simon have at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 6:1. What is Lance’s perspective of Rob?

2. What effect did Rob have on Young and their group of friends?

3. What do you make of Rob “researching” everyone when he first came to B’Vale?

4. Chapter 6 tells about Young’s family. What is his family like?

5. What was Young’s biggest fear?

6. Why would Young be considered a “fraud”?

7. Describe how Rob treats his frog in Biology class. What does this say of Rob’s personality (describe).

Chapter 7:1. What was Simon’s house like?….be descriptive!

2. What is Simon’s family and family life like?

3. What did Simon do for Coop?

4. What does Coop do for Simon?

5. Who told Simon to help Coop?

6. How did Rob react when Coop questioned him about Simon and the notebook?

7. What does this say about Rob’s personality?

8. What did Young and his dad discuss in Chp. 7?

9. Describe his dad’s expectations. How does Young’s dad treat him?

10. How does Young react after he leaves his father’s office?

11. What career would Young like to pursue?

12. Do you feel sorry for Young Steward? Why or why not?

Vocabulary Chapters 1-7

1. Deification (p.6): act of adoration; to make divine

2. Contender (p.2): competitor; somebody who has a good chance of winning

3. Indifferent (p.2): showing no care , concern, or interest in someone or something

4. Posse (p.7): group of people assembled for a common purpose

5. Fleeting (p.10): passing or fading quickly

6. Oblivious (p.12): unaware

7. Defiance (p.13): open, bold, or hostile refusal to obey or conform

8. Covey (p.18): group of people or things

9. Statuettes (p.18): small statue

10. Quirky (p.19): odd mannerism; peculiar habit

11. Gridiron (p.19): referring to a football field

12. Impaled (p.23): pierced with a pointed object

13. Constellation (p.32): group of stars forming shape; group of related things

14. Cumbersome (p.33): heavy or bulky; awkward to carry or handle

15. Eviscerated (p.33): to remove the internal organs of a person or animal

16. Devitalized (p.33): to make weak or lifeless

17. Antivivisectionists (p.34): against the operating on live animals

18. Engrossed (p.36): occupy someone’s attention

19. Sadist (p.36): hurting others or being cruel for fun

20. Paraphernalia (p.40): assorted objects or items, especially of equipment required for a specific activity.

21. Howitzer (p. 40): combat cannon

22. Sartorial (p.41): relating to tailoring or clothing in general