The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss Discussion Questions English 7
Mrs.McDonald
Chapter 1 p. 1-14
1. Who is the narrator? (full name)
2. What is the time setting?
3. What is the place setting?
4. What was the matter with Mother?
5. Why is her illness important to the entire family?
6. What was Father’s occupation?
7. Name Annie’s two sisters, their ages and their occupations.
8. Name 3 rights that were denied Jews after Hitler took
over
9. Why was father building a new house?
10. Who are NSB-ers?
11. Why is Rachel fired from her job?
12. Who is Willy Bos?
13. Why can’t she sit next to Annie anymore and be her friend?
14. What announcement made Father the angriest? Why?
15. Who is Mr. Herschel?
16. What does Joden verboden mean?
17. What do the de Leeuw do at the end of this chapter? Why?
18. How many years have passed since the chapter opened?
19. Why wouldn’t Mother move to
Chapter 2 p. 15-27
1. What did Annie’s father give her after they moved to the country?
2. Who was Frits Dropper?
3. In October, what had happened in WInterswijk?
4. What was Mauthausen?
5. Where was Mr. de Leeuw going to go? Why?
6. What does Jood mean?
7. What did the Jews have to wear on their chests? Describe it.
8. Where was the train taking all of the men? Why?
9. What did Rachel & Sini start in the house? Why?
10. Why did Annie’s mother have to go to the hospital?
11. Why did Annie have to go visit Dr. Bos, the mayor?
12. How old was the narrator in this chapter?
13. What was Father trying to find? Why?
14 At the end of the chapter, what had Annie lost?