Study Guide for : Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey & Comprehension Test

Jasper Jones
by Craig Silvey
About_
Jasper Jones, by Craig Silvey, is a coming-of-age novel set in a small Australian mining town in 1965, where a boy
named Charlie is drawn into a dangerous secret. This study guide helps students explore the novel’s characters,
plot, setting and themes through chapter-by-chapter questions and engaging activities. It also includes a short
background article and a True/False activity covering the whole book. This study guide contains 117 questions
across 9 chapter sections (90 Factual + 27 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 9 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (90 total), 9 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (27 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 8-10
Teacher Note_
This guide gives your students a structured way to build comprehension while also encouraging them to think
deeply about courage, prejudice and loyalty. The answer key and ready-made activities save you valuable
preparation time. We hope it makes teaching this powerful novel a rewarding experience for you and your class.
Small-Town Australia in the 1960s
The story is set in Corrigan, a fictional mining town in Western Australia, in the summer of 1965. Life there revolves around
cricket and close neighbors, but newcomers and anyone who is different are often treated with suspicion. Understanding this
setting helps explain how the characters behave.
The Shadow of the Vietnam War
During this period, Australia was sending soldiers to fight in Vietnam, and news of the war filled the papers and radios. Many
people felt anxious and angry, and some directed those feelings at Asian Australians. As you read, think about how events far
away can shape life in a small town.
A Coming-of-Age Story
Jasper Jones, by Craig Silvey, follows thirteen-year-old Charlie Bucktin, a bookish boy who dreams of being a writer. Like many
coming-of-age stories, it explores courage, loyalty, prejudice and growing up. Keep an eye on how Charlie’s attitudes and
actions change as the story goes on.