Scar Island

Chapters 1-5

Reading Check

1. His teeth (Chapter 1)

2. The Sinner’s Sorrow (Chapter 2)

3. Mr. Warwick (Chapter 3)

4. Onions (Chapter 4)

Short Answer

1. The reader does not know the exact nature of the crime. The headmaster refers to what Jonathan did as a “terrible crime.” (10) Though the reader does not know what Jonathan did, they know that he is deeply ashamed of whatever it was. (Chapters 1-5)

Chapters 6-9

Reading Check

1. Colin (Chapter 7)

2. In the freezer (Chapter 8)

3. Scars (Chapter 9)

Short Answer

1. Water conducts electricity, and the adults were all standing in a puddle when the lightning bolt struck, thus killing them all. The boys think they survived because they stood up on the stone blocks, out of the water. (Chapter 6)

Chapters 10-13

Reading Check

1. A glowing light (Chapter 10)

2. Four years (Chapter 11)

3. Keep writing letters every day (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. Because reading books was not compatible with the Admiral’s hard-labor approach to rehabilitating and reforming the boys. (Chapters 10-13)

Chapters 14-18

Reading Check

1. Chocolate (Chapter 14)

2. On the Slabhenge Island (Chapter 15)

3. Stealing cars (Chapter 16)

4. Colin (Chapter 17)

Short Answer

1. The librarian says the Hatch is an iron door holding the sea back. He also explains that water has been rising for years, encroaching on the school. He notes that there was once a beach and a pier before the water rose and washed them away. (Chapter 15)

Chapters 19-22

Reading Check

1. The Admiral’s room (Chapter 19)

2. A paper crane (Chapter 20)

3. He banishes Jonathan (Chapter 22)

Short Answer

1. Jonathan explains that he used to like setting fires and that his sister Sophia took away his matches to prevent him from doing so. However, she accidentally started a fire that set their whole house ablaze, ultimately killing her. Colin assures Jonathan that the incident was simply a terrible accident. (Chapter 21)

Chapters 23-26

Reading Check

1. Patrick, the man from the mail boat (Chapter 23)

2. Category 5 (Chapter 24)

3. Rats (Chapter 25)

Short Answer

1. Jonathan insists they must rescue Colin, who is tied up in a lower part of the building. Jonathan also remembers Patrick and says they must free him from the coal room. (Chapter 26)

Chapters 27-30

Reading Check

1. In his mouth (Chapter 27)

2. “I am a lunatic. Not an idiot.” (Chapter 29)

3. They light the lighthouse. (Chapter 30)

Short Answer

1. Jonathan imagines he is saving his sister Sophia while rescuing Colin. He thinks he can save her (referring to Sophia), but then corrects himself and thinks him. This moment is symbolic because Jonathan needs to free himself from his guilt over Sophia’s death to move on with his life; rescuing Colin shows that Jonathan is ready to release himself from the guilt. (Chapter 28)