52 pages 1 hour read

Larry Watson

Montana 1948

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1993

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Reading Check

1. What expression does David use to describe his mother’s passing?

2. What does Wesley think of Indigenous Americans?

3. How do white people view Ollie Young Bear?

4. What does David’s grandfather give him before he goes horseback riding?

5. What notable change does Wesley go through when he is centering on a suspect?

6. What makes David cry?

7. What emotion does David feel for his uncle at the end of the novella?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Compare and contrast how David and his mother, Gail, view his father, Wesley. What is Gail’s primary concern for her husband and child?

2. Who is Marie Little Soldier? Where does she come from, and what is her role in the Hayden family?

3. Why does Wesley call his brother, Uncle Frank? What information does Marie share with Gail about him?

4. Summarize the circumstances surrounding Marie’s death. What suspicious sight does David tell his parents that he sees?

5. Why do David’s grandparents visit? What do they argue with Wesley about and why?

6.