The Bell Bandit by Jacqueline Davies Comprehension Questions

Nine

Evan was sitting in the front seat, which he had never been allowed to do before

Count things along the way such as cows, hawks, Mini Coopers, and out-of-state license plates

She said he was old enough to move up front because he was ten and tall for his age

Pete

a few weeks or a month

space heaters

Evan

snowstorm

reading by the wood stove and eating powdered doughnuts

Grandma's homeowner's insurance policy

The Big Book of Bells

on the couch

a family facing adversity

the impact of the snowstorm and the efforts to address the house's issues

resilience and determination to overcome the obstacles they encounter

donating a large sum of money

Moose Droppings

a challenging jellybean puzzle

Jessie's mother

postcards

an old man; his experiences at the Olympic Stadium in Lake Placid

Evan, Jessie's brother

a hole in the back kitchen wall

the damage to the house

why old people act differently

a bag of candy called 'Moose Droppings'

it starts snowing heavily

Evan

Grandma's

Grandma's

Fire at Grandma's house

Unsettled

Crossroads Store

Five dollars

Gas station, deli, bakery, gift shop, bookshop, and post office

Stopping at the Crossroads Store

Driving straight through

Crossroads Store

Unexpected changes and uncertainty

They found a large hole in the kitchen wall, with edges blackened and a strong smell of smoke.

She was surprised and unable to handle the situation, unlike her usual self who can solve any problem.

Evan discovered a two-foot-wide hole in the kitchen ceiling, leading to a hole in the floor upstairs, specifically in his room.

The windows in Evan's room were shattered, and the room was covered in shards and snow due to the broken windows.

They were asked not to sleep in their room and were suggested to sleep in Grandma's room or on the living room couch, which has a wood-burning stove for warmth.

They were puzzled by the unusual situation and felt that nothing was as it should be.

Evan felt a brief moment of panic before realizing the vulnerability of the house due to the hole in the wall.

A man named Pete arrived, introducing himself as the one doing the work on Grandma's house.

Pete is described as tall and thin, wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt, a down vest, jeans, and heavy work boots.

Evan felt relieved after meeting Pete and realized he is not dangerous.

Pete went to the basement to turn the electricity on and then walked Evan's mom through the damage.

The family was left to deal with the unexpected damage and make temporary living arrangements while repairs are underway.

The snowstorm made the roads challenging and covered the driveway, making it impossible to drive. Additionally, the car battery was dead, further delaying their plans.

Evan didn't really embrace the 'man of the family' role and didn't see himself that way despite his dad's absence. However, he was willing to help Pete the next day.

Jessie couldn't wait for Grandma to come home, hoping that things would go back to normal. However, the snowstorm disrupted their plans to bring Grandma home and made the situation more uncertain.

The snowstorm and car trouble made it difficult to leave Grandma's house, with the family having to stay through New Year's Day to ensure Grandma's settlement.

pine branches and a waterproof tarp

on fire

alerted the fire department

hills

bell

a hole

building, exploration, and unexpected encounters in the woods

woods, hills, and Grandma's property

Evan, Jessie, Grandma, Maxwell, and Pete

the missing bell and the encounter with Maxwell

Lightning Tree

a nice place to rest

Jessie spends the morning reading by the wood stove and eating powdered doughnuts brought by Pete.

She finds a special book, 'The Big Book of Bells,' with a photo of Grandma's bell, a significant item to Jessie.

Mrs. Treski faces a delay in getting a new car battery due to needing to pick up her mother from the hospital.

Jessie explores the snowy woods and reminisces about building a tepee with Evan in the woods the previous summer.

Jessie plans to visit Lovell's Hill to see Grandma's bell, but first, she checks on the tepee they built.

Pete and Evan are in the basement fixing the furnace, causing loud noises and occasional laughter.

Jessie spends hours engrossed in the book 'The Big Book of Bells,' learning about bells and their components.

Jessie imagines herself in a magical, wintery world while venturing into the woods on snowshoes.

Jessie tries to engage Evan in playing in the snow, but he is preoccupied with helping Pete.

Mrs. Treski needs a new car battery but faces a delay due to needing to pick up her mother from the hospital.

Mrs. Treski is searching for Grandma's homeowner's insurance policy in boxes of wet papers after a fire.

Jessie reminisces about building a tepee with Evan in the woods the previous summer while exploring the snowy woods.

She appears pale, with bags under her eyes, and is unable to settle her gaze on anything.

A cup of green tea and the recent fire in the kitchen.

She seems more like herself after sleeping well, and they start a challenging puzzle together.

The puzzle depicts brightly colored jellybeans, and it serves as a bonding activity for Jessie and her grandmother.

Jessie

$2,500

Maxwell

sawdust and debris

the mystery of the missing bell and the interaction between the characters

snowshoes

he will continue working on the construction

a construction site and a family home

Maxwell

their dialogue and actions

Evan's grandmother

his eagerness to work on the construction is evident

Jessie gave Grandma a knitted scarf, and Grandma gave Jessie a calligraphy pen and metallic ink. Evan gave Grandma a magic set, and Grandma gave Evan a Christmas cactus covered in pink blossoms.

The puzzle depicted brightly colored jellybeans that reminded Jessie of Christmas lights. They faced the challenge of all the pieces looking the same despite being different shapes.

Grandma looked like herself and had slept well. She exchanged Christmas gifts with Jessie and Evan, engaged in a giant bear hug, and started working on a new jigsaw puzzle with Jessie.

They spent time spreading out all the pieces on the table and turning each one right side up. The puzzle was notably the most beautiful and the hardest puzzle Jessie had ever seen.

Evan tries to help his grandmother and recalls details about feeding the chickens, surprising his grandmother.

Jessie and Maxwell are engrossed in watching TV and planning a spy mission.

Evan's behavior appears unusual and scared to Jessie.

Evan reveals that his grandmother is experiencing memory loss.

The family dynamics are affected, causing confusion and concern.

Grandma's condition impacts the family's interactions, and they are struggling to cope with the reality of her condition.

Evan agrees to take his grandmother for a walk, despite his reluctance and his mother's instructions to keep her away from a hill with a bell.

Evan becomes afraid when they reach a familiar hill with a bell, as Grandma insists on going closer to where the bell should have been.

Grandma accuses Evan of taking the bell, despite his denials, and becomes increasingly disoriented, mistaking Evan for a thief.

Evan struggles to figure out how to get his grandmother home safely as she becomes more agitated and falls in the snow.

The story ends with Evan trying to help his grandmother while feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to handle the situation.

Evan talks about the repair work he and Pete were doing, while Grandma remains mostly silent.

As they walk, Grandma becomes increasingly tired, and Evan tries to persuade her to turn back.

Grandma mistakes Evan for a thief as she becomes increasingly disoriented.

Grandma becomes more agitated and falls in the snow as they walk in the woods.

Evan feels overwhelmed and unsure of how to handle the situation as he tries to help his grandmother in the woods.

Evan's mother instructs him to keep his grandmother away from a hill with a bell.

Evan tries to persuade Grandma to turn back as they walk in the woods.

Maxwell is a boy with skis who arrives and impressively solves the middle part of the puzzle, adding an intriguing element to the story.

The bell was put in place in 1884 by Jessie's great-grandfather and has an inscription from THE JONES TROY BELL FOUNDRY COMPANY, TROY, N.Y. 1884. It weighs around a hundred pounds and has gone missing, hinting at a mystery.

Jessie suspects her grandmother may have taken the bell down recently, which her grandmother denies. Jessie wonders if her grandmother's forgetfulness is related to the missing bell.

Maxwell impressively solves the middle part of the puzzle, attributing his skills to being smart. This surprises Jessie, as she is known to be the best at puzzles in her family.

The inscription on the bell indicates it was made by THE JONES TROY BELL FOUNDRY COMPANY, TROY, N.Y. in 1884.

Maxwell's arrival and puzzle-solving abilities add an intriguing element to the story, hinting at a mystery surrounding the missing New Year's Eve bell and the potential involvement of Jessie's grandmother.

The bell was put in place in 1884 by Jessie's great-grandfather, but has gone missing. Jessie suspects her grandmother may have taken it down recently, and her grandmother's denial and forgetfulness add to the mystery.

The bell weighs around a hundred pounds and was once removed for cleaning by Jessie's grandmother.

Maxwell's skill surprises Jessie, as she is known to be the best at puzzles in her family.

The bell has an inscription from THE JONES TROY BELL FOUNDRY COMPANY, TROY, N.Y. 1884, indicating it was made in 1884.

Maxwell engages in a conversation with Jessie about politeness and rules while working on completing the puzzle.

Maxwell introduces Jessie to the TV show 'Get Smart' and explains that his name, Maxwell Smart, is a joke because Mrs. Joyce always calls him 'smart'.

Jessie suggests they become real secret agents and solve a crime.

Evan is asked to take Grandma for a walk, and he feels reluctant because Grandma seems different and not herself.

The story is described as a blend of a children's adventure and a family mystery, with different characters and plotlines intertwining.

The text sets the stage for potential conflicts and resolutions by providing insight into the characters' personalities and dynamics.

Jessie and Maxwell are building a puzzle when Maxwell's movements distract Jessie.

Evan and Pete are fixing holes in the roof when Mrs. Treski asks Evan to take Grandma for a walk.

The show 'Get Smart' features a confident secret agent, Maxwell Smart, and his colleague Agent 99, and they use various gadgets. This influences Jessie's suggestion to become real secret agents and solve a crime.

The text provides insight into the characters' personalities and dynamics, setting the stage for potential conflicts and resolutions.

Evan remembers a conversation in the kitchen with his grandmother, but his mother explains that she is not herself. This is significant because it sets the stage for a potential mystery involving Grandma's unusual behavior.

The text describes the story as a blend of a children's adventure and a family mystery, with different characters and plotlines intertwining.

The story sets the stage for potential conflicts and resolutions by providing insight into the characters' personalities and dynamics.

Evan experienced a panicked feeling when Grandma left the house because he felt that something bad was going to happen and he didn't know how to stop it.

Evan searched for his missing boot in the boot bin, under the bench, and even in the kitchen. After five minutes, he found it wedged between the clothes dryer and the wall.

Jessie and Maxwell were planning a stakeout. They realized that it was New Year's Eve and they needed a map for their stakeout.

Maxwell had drawing materials such as paper, markers, colored pencils, rulers, and protractors in his room. These materials were useful for planning their stakeout.

the Uptons', Mrs. Lewis's, Maxwell's, and the old Jansen house

the Sinclairs

Get Smart

behind pine trees near the Sinclairs' house

solving the mystery

friendship dynamics, determination, and resourcefulness

children's novel or children's story involving a mystery and detective work

mean boys

looking through the binoculars and not seeing much of interest

join the stakeout due to the Sinclairs' reputation

supplies and binoculars from Maxwell's mom

children's determination and resourcefulness in solving the mystery

Evan recalls that sometimes things 'call' to his grandmother and she has to follow their voices.

Jessie and Maxwell witness two boys running towards the barn carrying a shoebox and a hammer.

The chapter ends with Jessie and Maxwell deciding to go see what the boys are doing in the barn.

The chapter ends with a scream and the sound of shattering glass coming from the direction of the little bridge that crosses Deer Brook.

The text conveys a sense of urgency and tension.

Evan goes into the woods to search for his grandmother and finds the old oak crossbeam empty.

Evan realizes he needs Jessie's help to find his grandmother.

Jessie and Maxwell decide to investigate the barn to find a potential secret compartment where the bell might be hidden.

Maxwell is hesitant about investigating the barn, but Jessie is determined to find the bell.

Evan is left in charge of waiting for his grandmother, and Pete decides to drive into town to find Evan's mother, leaving Evan alone at home.

Evan feels guilty for not stopping his grandmother from going for a walk.

Evan reflects on missing his absent father and realizes he needs Jessie's help to find his grandmother.

The search for Evan's grandma is described as taking place in cold, dark, and dangerous conditions, with tall pine trees and shifting shadows in the woods.

Pete suggests someone stay at the house and asks Evan if he can do that. Evan agrees to stay at the house as part of the plan to search for his grandma.

The characters' emotions and concerns emphasize the urgency of finding Evan's grandma.

The characters demonstrate determination and willingness to take action to address the situation.

Jessie and Maxwell witness two boys in ski jackets and boots rushing out of the house.

Evan fears that his grandma might be afraid of him or hide.

The area is filled with tall pine trees and has shifting shadows, creating a potentially disorienting and dangerous environment.

Evan is concerned about his grandma's safety and the possibility of her being hit by a car in the dark.

The text illustrates the characters' determination and willingness to take action to address the situation.

Jessie and Maxwell find nothing when they peek through the windows of the house.

Evan hears a commotion inside the house and starts running down the driveway to search for his missing grandma.

Evan worries about his grandma's safety and the possibility of her being hit by a car in the dark as he runs towards the road.

Jessie decides to spy on the boys in the barn alone, as Maxwell stays behind

She avoids spying from the open door to prevent getting caught

Inside the barn, she sees the usual items like a tractor and old tools

The boys are in a stall used for storing firewood, and they are nailing something to a board

Jessie realizes the boys are not being mean and are building something new

Mike holds up a live frog, which he and Jeff are seemingly using for an unknown purpose

Jessie spots windows on the sides and back of the barn and uses them to spy

Maxwell joins her and whispers questions about what the boys are doing

The boys are testing spools by spinning them on nails, making a whirring noise

Jessie makes a quick diagram of what she sees using her notebook

Jessie hears hammering and continues to move around the barn

Maxwell joins her and whispers questions about what the boys are doing

Jessie saw the boys torturing a live frog in the barn, which led to a confrontation with Evan and Jessie as they accused the boys of breaking their window and trespassing.

Evan, a tough kid who liked guts and gore, was disgusted by the boys' actions and felt sick at the thought of hurting a real animal. This revealed his empathy and moral compass.

The older boy initially made a move toward Evan, but when confronted about the incident in the barn, he and the younger boy seemed to have nothing to say and looked down, indicating guilt and lack of defense.

Jessie and Evan stood up against the boys' cruel actions, showing their sense of justice and empathy towards animals, while also confronting the boys about their wrongdoing and holding them accountable.

Jessie

Lightning Tree

Confused and waiting for a bus

By encouraging her and explaining the need to accept the situation

The bus won't come due to a flat tire

Happiness

Caring for a loved one with dementia

To create a systematic approach to their search

Fear of what they might find

Make a bus appear

Burnt appearance with a single stubby branch

Her grandmother's condition

in the snow

Grandma's favorite walk

flashlights and snowshoes

heavy snowfall

silent and pitch-black

the top of Lovell's Hill

Grandma being alone in the dark

Grandma might seek a warm and safe place

the tepee

lost and uncertain

the difficulty and tension of the search for Grandma

Grandma might seek a warm and safe place

Jessie

shoves him to the ground

threaten to break the barn windows

a frog hanging by its legs

that it might be permanently damaged

put it out of its misery, but it leaps away

back to Lovell's Hill

a lousy spy

a flashlight

proof

Evan encounters Grandma waiting for a bus and offers to escort her home after informing her that all the buses are broken.

Another passenger, Jessie, joins Evan and Grandma on their walk home, and Evan reassures Grandma and helps her reminisce about her youth.

Evan feels exhausted after reaching Grandma's house, while Grandma appears rejuvenated.

Jessie decides to tell Mrs. Cooper the whole story, including the part about spying, and shares it with Mrs. Cooper.

The summary ends with Jessie sitting with Mrs. Cooper, contemplating the events of the day and deciding to reveal everything.