Jungle of Bones by Ben Mikaelsen
Reading Packet
NAME:_________________________________________
PERIOD: _______________________________________
DATE: _________________________________________
Vocabulary Words
Directions: As you read, fill in the vocabulary word chart. You need to write the definition of
each word, and write a sentence correctly using the term.
Word
Refuge
p1
Primal
p3
V.F.W.
p4
Furrows
p9
Careening
p9
Ft. Knox
p11
Felony
p11
Definition
Sentence
Genocide
p14
Darfur
p15
Operatives
P17
Expedition
P19
Malaria
p19
Negotiable
P20
Alzheimers
P23
Executor
P 23
Estate
P23
Gangrene
P24
Cannibals
P26
Contempt
P39
Apprehension
P 46
Flak
P57
Jettison
P59
Port Moresby
P65
Apathy
P70
Indifference
P70
Foliage
P71
Machete
P71
Headhunters
P76
Ominous
P83
Sauna
P84
Corruption
P84
Rascals
P85
Shantytowns
P86
philosopher
p94
Gorges
P97
Haus
Tambaran
P100
Droned
P105
Municipality
P111
Feral
P115
Defiance
P117
Stagnate
P123
Putrid
P123
Stupor
P167
Delirious
P171
Endurance
P179
Comprehension Questions
Directions: After reading each chapter, look to see if there are any questions to answer. When
answering each question you should restate the question and provide at least two details from the text
to support your answer.
1. P. 10: Dylan said he would pay for all of the damage he caused. The police officer in return then
said, “You bet you will.” Do you think Dylan and the police officer meant the same thing?
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2. P.15: Sam, Dylan’s dad, wrote in his letter, “life has given me the chance to be part of something
bigger than myself.” What does that means? What can you do that is bigger that yourself?
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3. P.16: Dylan discussed his father’s death on page 16. Using details from the book, why was Sam’s
death so hard on Dylan?
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4. P.16: The simile “Dylan felt like a caged animal,” is used to describe how Dylan feels when his
uncle is in his house. Please describe what that simile means. Have you ever felt that way?
Explain.
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5. P.23: at the airport, Uncle Todd told Dylan, “It doesn’t take much of a man to be a jerk.”
Interpret the quote. Has Dylan been a man or a jerk so far?
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6. P.60: What does “hit the silk,” mean? Why would it have been bad?
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7. P. 63: Frank called himself, “one of the lucky ones,” but is he really lucky? Why or why not?
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8. P.64: Dylan continues to not take his medications. Make an inference on what will happen to
him as a result.
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9. P.69: Dylan cried when Uncle Todd said, “There’s a world waiting for you, son, when you’re
ready.” Why did Dylan react so strongly to that?
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10. P.70: Dylan’s grandfather wrote about placing an American Flag in his map box and he explained
that freedom isn’t free and that “freedom’s worst enemy is indifference and apathy.” Is this still
true today? How is indifference and apathy shown in society today?
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11. P.72: According to the journal, why should World War II have been called the Jungle War?
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12. P.73: Why do you think the American Flag was so important to Dylan’s grandfather? He
mentioned his children and grandchildren looking at the flag in the future and that is the reason
he is willing to risk his life. Do you agree him?
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13. P. 74: Dylan’s grandfather thought he was writing his dying words at the end of his last journal
entry. He wrote that he wanted his legacy to be that, “I fought hard and I loved my country.” Is
that a good legacy to have? What do you want your legacy to be?
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14. P.74-75: Why does Uncle Todd think they can find the wreckage if the military couldn’t find it
during the war?
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15. P.78: After reading Uncle Todd’s explanation of “deserving respect,” who, in your life, deserves
respect?
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16. P.79: While reading a flight magazine, Dylan compared his flight to being “just one of those lines
in the magazine.” What does he mean by that?
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17. P.81: After his father’s death, did Dylan have a right to start acting out toward all authority
figures?
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18. P.82: Dylan has started to wonder what Uncle Todd’s weakness is; do you think he has one? Is it
normal for people to have weaknesses?
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19. P. 84: What is corruption? Is it only found in P.N.G? What are some current events that could be
considered corruption?
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20. P.89: Why do you think P.N.G. is referred to as the “land that time forgot”?
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21. P.95: “The river looked like a brown coiling snake under their wings,” is a type of figurative
language. What type of figurative language is it and describe what it means.
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22. P. 99: Why do the people of P.N.G. eat betel nuts?
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23. P. 100: What do you think of the initiation practice for boys in P.N.G? Would or could that
happen here?
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24. P.111: There is a lot of description of the people in Balo, draw a picture of what they look like.
25. P.119: What does it mean, “Dylan felt small”? Have you ever had a feeling like that?
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26. P. 120: What do you think the rest of the group is doing while Dylan is gone?
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27. P. 121: Dylan seems to be getting sick. What do you think he has? Has there been any
foreshadowing for this?
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28. P125: Dylan finally admitted that all the things he did at home was his fault. Why did he admit
that now of all time?
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29. P.147: Do you agree “smartphones and computer games, maybe those aren’t the right measure
of how intelligent and educated people are”?
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30. P. 150: Kanzie went on a rant about the, “stupid white people.” Does she have a point?
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31. P. 152: Why is Dylan “this way,” according to Kanzie?
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32. P.153-157: Draw what Second Ace looks like?
33. P. 157: Why do you think Dylan wanted his grandfather’s American Flag?
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34. P. 158: Describe what Kanzie meant when she said, “The world doesn’t need any more foolish
people”?
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35. P. 162-163: What is the significance of Dylan’s dream of being a veteran in the parade?
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36. P. 166: For the first time, Dylan realized the sacrifice his father made. Why did it take being
inside Second Ace to do that?
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37. P. 166-167: Interpret Dylan’s dream?
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38. P. 171: Why do you think the author had Kanzie be someone different than Dylan thought she
was?
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39. P.177: Quintin told Dylan that he didn’t think he was a screw up. Why was that important for
Dylan to hear?
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40. P.182: Quintin and Dylan’s relationship has changed significantly. Write a paragraph describing
how it has changed.
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41. P. 185: According to Uncle Todd, how should we treat older people?
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42. P. 188: Why do you think Uncle Todd kept his past from Dylan?
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43. P. 189: Throughout the book we have witnessed how Dylan has given up on himself, describe
one of those moments.
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44. P. 192: Why did Dylan want to give Frank the flag?
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45. P. 196: Why was Uncle Todd giving Dylan the brush off on their way home?
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46. P. 203: Why do you think the author chose to have Frank pass before Dylan came back?
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47. P.207: Describe the significance of Dylan’s visit with John Taylor.
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