A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author

I Can Academy

Do you love reading? What kind of story do you

like to read?
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Who is your favorite author? Why?
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What do you think this story will be about?
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Vocabulary
Write your sentences in your vocabulary notebook.

1. owe - /o/ verb

Definition: to need to pay or repay money to a person, bank, business, etc.
Sample Sentence: I still owe money on the car. [=I have not yet paid back all the money I
borrowed to buy the car]
2. mischievous - /mstvs/ adjective
Definition: showing a playful desire to cause trouble
Sample Sentence: Children are usually mischievous.

5. thrust - /rst/ verb

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4. yank - /jk/ verb

Definition: to suddenly pull (something) in a quick, forceful way
Sample Sentence: He yanked the door shut.

3. damp - /dmp/ adjective

Definition: somewhat or slightly wet
Sample Sentence: Wipe up the mess with a damp cloth.

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Definition: always followed by an adverb or preposition, [+ object] : to push (someone or

something) with force : shove
Sample Sentence: She thrust him aside [=pushed him to the side] and walked past him.
6. jerk - /k/ verb
Definition: to move (something) with a sharp, quick motion
Sample Sentence: The car jerked into motion.
7. neat - /nit/ adjective
Definition: US, informal: pleasant, fun, or interesting
Sample Sentence: I think it's a neat idea [=a good idea] to invite the new neighbors to the
cookout.
8. shriek - /rik/ verb
Definition: to make a loud, high-pitched cry
Sample Sentence: She shrieked when she saw a mouse.
9. peculiar - /pkjulj/ adjective
Definition: not usual or normal: strange
Sample Sentence: It seems peculiar that he would leave town and not tell anybody.
10. eager - /ig/ adjective
Definition: feeling a strong and impatient desire to do something or for something
Sample Sentence: They were eager to hear the latest news. = They were eager for the latest
news.
11. ransom - /rnsm/ noun
Definition: money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped
Sample Sentence: The ransom note explained the terms under which she would be released.

14. itinerary - /atnrri/ noun

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13. rational - /rnl/ adjective

Definition: having the ability to reason or think about things clearly
Sample Sentence: Humans are rational beings. [=are able to use reason when thinking about
something]

12. suspicious - /ssps/ adjective

Definition: causing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving wrongly :
causing suspicion
Sample Sentence: We were instructed to report any suspicious activity/behavior in the
neighborhood.

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Definition: a document in which the places you will be going to are listed
Sample Sentence: I'll mail you a copy of my itinerary so you'll know where to reach me.
15. smear - /smi/ verb
Definition: to make (something) dirty by rubbing it with something else
Sample Sentence: She smeared jam on her toast.
16. guilty - /glti/ adjective
Definition: feeling bad because you have done something bad or wrong or because you believe
you have done something bad or wrong
Sample Sentence: There's no need to feel guilty about it.
17. detective - /dtktv/ noun
Definition: a police officer whose job is to find information about crimes that have occurred and
to catch criminals
Sample Sentence: Detective Sgt. Lee is working on the case.
18. sweat buckets - idiom
Definition: to sweat (= lose water through your skin) a lot
Sample Sentence: I was sweating buckets under my plastic rain jacket.
19. squint - /skwnt/ verb
Definition: to look at something with your eyes partly closed
Sample Sentence: He squinted through the haze of smoke.
20. spooky - /spuki/ adjective
Definition: strange and frightening
Sample Sentence: The music was pretty spooky.
21. celebrity - /slbrti/ noun
Definition: a person who is famous
Sample Sentence: She's become something of a local celebrity. [=someone who everyone in the
area knows or recognizes]

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23. relieve - /rliv/ verb

Definition: to reduce or remove (something, such as pain or an unpleasant feeling)
Sample Sentence: I took a pill to relieve my headache.

22. fare - /fe/ noun

Definition: the money a person pays to travel on a bus, train, boat, or airplane or in a taxi
Sample Sentence: I need some coins for the bus fare.

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24. smudge - /sm/ verb

Definition: to make a dirty mark, spot, streak, etc., on (something)
Sample Sentence: Don't smudge the picture with your dirty hands!
25. disturb - /dstb/ verb
Definition: to stop (someone) from working, sleeping, etc. : to interrupt or bother (someone or
something)
Sample Sentence: She doesn't want to be disturbed while she's working.
26. fishy - /fi/ adjective
Definition: informal: causing doubt or suspicion : likely to be bad, untrue, dishonest, etc.
Sample Sentence: That story sounds/smells fishy [=suspicious, dubious] to me.
27. babysit - /bebist/ verb
Definition: to take care of a child while the child's parents are away
Sample Sentence: She babysits their kids on Saturday nights.
28. gazette - /gzt/ noun
Definition: newspaper usually used in the names of newspapers
Sample Sentence: The Daily Gazette featured the sleuthing and busting of criminals by Dink,
Rose, and Josh.
29. be up to something - idiom
Definition: Fig. [of someone] plotting something.
Sample Sentence: I am sure that Lily and Max are up to something evil.
30. pull ones leg - idiom
Definition: to tell someone something that is not true as a way of joking with them (usually in
continuous tenses)
Sample Sentence: Is he really angry with me or do you think he's just pulling my leg?
31. devour - /dvaw/ verb
Definition: to quickly eat all of (something) especially in a way that shows that you are very
hungry
Sample Sentence: He devoured everything on his plate.

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33. victim - /vktm/ noun

Definition: (a) a person who has been attacked, injured, robbed, or killed by someone else

32. nibble - /nbl/ verb

Definition: to eat slowly or with small bites
Sample Sentence: We nibbled cheese and crackers.

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(b) someone or something that is harmed by an unpleasant event (such as an illness or accident)
Sample Sentence: The little girl was a victim of abuse by her foster parents.
34. figure out - /fgj/ verb
Definition: discover, determine, solve, fathom
Sample Sentence: Its a book of brainteasers that even a really clever person won't have an easy
time figuring out.
35. persevere - \pr-s-vir\ verb
Definition: to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult
Sample Sentence: to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is
difficult
36. expect - \ik-spekt\ verb
Definition: to think that something will probably or certainly happen
Sample Sentence: Prices are expected to rise.
37. satisfy - \sa-ts-f\ verb
Definition: to meet the needs of; to make happy or contented
Sample Sentence: The meal satisfied our hunger.
38. be in hot water idiom
Definition: in a difficult situation; trouble
Sample Sentence: The kidnapper was in hot water with the authorities.
39. vividly -\vi-vd-li\ adverb
Definition: producing strong mental images;
Sample Sentence:
40. muffle - \m-fl\ verb
Definition: to make (a sound) quieter: to decrease the noise made by (something)
Sample Sentence: I could hear their muffled voices from the next room.

43. cat is out of the bag fig.

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42. cottage - \k-tij\ noun

Definition: a small house especially in the country
Sample Sentence: We rented a cottage for the weekend.

41. sore - \sor\ adjective

Definition: hurt or inflamed so as to be or seem painful
Sample Sentence: The patient has a sore throat.

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Definition: the secret has been made known

Sample Sentence: Now that the cat is out of the bag, there is no sense in pretending we don't
know what's really happening.
44. barrette - \b-ret, b-\ noun
Definition: a decorative clip or bar that is used to hold a girl's or woman's hair in place
Sample Sentence: Ruth Rose always puts on some barrettes on her hair.
45. timid - \ti-md\ adjective
Definition: feeling or showing a lack of courage or confidence
Sample Sentence: She's very timid and shy when meeting strangers.
46. rescue - \res-()ky\ verb
Definition: to save (someone or something) from danger or harm
Sample Sentence: The survivors were rescued by the Coast Guard.
47. scheme - \skm\ noun
Definition: a clever and often dishonest plan to do or get something; the way that something is
arranged or organized
Sample Sentence: Paul is thinking of a scheme to cheat people out of their money.
48. disguise - \d-skz, dis-gz also diz-\ verb
Definition: to change the usual appearance, sound, taste, etc., of (someone or something) so
that people will not recognize that person or thing
Sample Sentence: He tried to disguise his voice on the phone but I could tell it was him.
49. investigate - \in-ves-t-gt\ verb
Definition: to try to find out the facts about (something, such as a crime or an accident) in order
to learn how it happened, who did it, etc.
Sample Sentence: The police are still investigating the kidnapping.

Comprehension Check
Answer in complete sentences.

Chapter 1

Why was Wallis Wallace so important to Dink?

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A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author

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2. What do you think Wallis Wallace looks like? Why do you think he does not have a picture on
his books?
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3. Why was Ruth Rose coming with them to the book store?
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4. Do you think Wallis Wallace will really come? Why or why not?
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5. What do you predict will happen next?
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Chapter 2
1. What happened at the beginning of the chapter?
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2. What happened at the end of the chapter?
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3.

What was your favorite part of the chapter?

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4. What do you predict will happen next?

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Chapter 3

Who was the lady who was watching the kids?

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A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author

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2. What did the letter she had say?

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3. Do you think the kids will find him? Why or why not?
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Chapter 4
1.

What did Dink find out when he called the airport?

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2. Why do you think Mr. Paskey was sweating so badly?

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3. What did Maureen say Wallace looked like?
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4. Why do you think Wallace had a silly smile on his face?
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Chapter 5
1.

What happened in this chapter?

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2. What do you predict will happen next?

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Chapter 6

2. Did any of the clues about the Wallace give you an idea to help solve this mystery?
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What did the maid way about the rooms?

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A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author

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3. What do you predict will happen next?

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Chapter 7
1.

What clues were helpful in this chapter?

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2. What do you predict will happen next?

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Chapter 8
1.

What happened in this chapter?

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2. What do you predict will happen next?

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Chapter 9
1. What did the kids find in the hotel room 302?
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2. Do you think Ruth Rose is correct? Why or why not?
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Chapter 10

2. Did it end the way you thought? Why or why not?

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What was the conclusion of this mystery?

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A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author

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CHARACTER PROFILE
Direction: Draw each character as described in the story and write his or her
trait/s.

Name: ______________________
Traits:
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Name: ______________________
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Name: ______________________
Traits:
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Name: ______________________
Traits:
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Name: ______________________
Traits:
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Name: ______________________
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Name: ______________________
Traits:
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A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author

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A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author

A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author

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BOOK REPORT
Book Title: ________________________________________________________________________
Author: ______________________________

Illustrator: ________________________

Characters:
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Setting:
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Plot/Synopsis (Beginning, Middle, Ending):
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What is your favorite part of the story?
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Do you like this book? Why or why not?

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