Will Grayson
Will Grayson: Reader Response Journal
Part 1: Answer these questions while reading the book.
After you have read the first 4 chapters, answer the following questions:
- Write a short summary of what you have read so far.
- Is there something you especially like about the book so far? Is there something you dislike? Explain. Other reflections you’d like to share?
- Guess what you think might happen in the book (based on what you’ve read so far).
- What do you hope might happen?
- What do you think of the writing in the book? Are there many difficult words? Is it easy to read? ? Other reflections on the writing? Explain your thoughts.
Read 50 more pages.
Pause in (at least) 3 places and write down a quote that you think is either:
interesting
exciting
fun
scary
important
(other)
Reflect on the quotes you have chosen. Why did you choose that particular one? Explain why you think it is interesting, exciting, etc. Share any thoughts you have about it.
Part 2 : Most of these questions you will answer after finishing the book.
Story Elements
* Choose 1 of these 6 questions.
Explore how the main character changed throughout the story. Make sure to write about the character before the change, what happened to cause the change, and the character after the change.
Compare and contrast two characters in the book by describing their similarities and differences.
Describe an interesting or important character in your book. Make sure to include events in which the character was involved.
Write a letter to the character in the book or a letter from one character to another.
Write about something that happened in the story that surprised you or that you found interesting.
Write a diary entry in the voice of a character in your book.
Recall
* Choose 1 of these 2 questions.
Describe in detail the setting of your book.
List three character traits that describe the book’s main character. Develop your answer.
Connections
* Choose 1 of these 4 questions.
What advice would you give a character in this book? Which character? Why would you give them this advice?
If you had to choose, which character would you most like to be? Why?
Describe a character’s personality trait that you would like to have. Why would you like to have this trait?
Have you changed your feeling/thinking about something after reading this book? Explain.
Opinion
* Choose 2 of these 3 questions.
Why do you think the author chose the opening line he or she did? Did you like it? Why or why not? Did it make you want to read further?
What is a question you would like to ask the author. How do you think they would respond?
Do you you like the ending of the book? Why or why not? Do you think there is more to tell? Explain.
Language
* Answer all 3 of these questions.
Describe how the author makes you feel through their writing. What about it makes you feel this way?
Copy a sentence from the book that is well-written. Why do you like this sentence?
Did you notice any figurative language in the book? (Examples: simile, metaphor, idioms, alliteration). Write down at least 5 and explain what the author means by them.