Harbor Me

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

Chapters 1-6

Reading Check

1. Who took Esteban’s father?

2. How many students are in Ms. Laverne’s class at the beginning of sixth grade?

3. Where is Haley’s father?

4. What does Ms. Laverne take a picture of after Esteban returns and shares his concerns about immigration?

5. What does Amari name the room the students will meet in each Friday?

Short Answer

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

1. Why does Haley struggle to share her concerns about her family with the other students in her class?

2. Why are the students reluctant to speak in the vacant space Ms. Laverne creates for them?

Paired Resource

“Immigration in America”

• This article describes immigration in America and the debates surrounding immigration.
• Shared themes include Discovering a Sense of Belonging and Storytelling and Personal Identity.
• What percentage of the population is immigrants? Where are most immigrated people coming from? Why has immigration from Mexico declined over the years? Where have recent immigrants settled?

Chapters 7-11

Reading Check

1. Where is Haley’s father incarcerated?

2. What does Haley’s uncle purchase for her?

3. Where is Esteban’s family from?

4. What does Amari draw in his picture?

Short Answer

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

1. How do Haley’s peers react when she takes off her uniform and reveals her T-shirt?

2. How does Esteban describe his father?

Paired Resource

“Racial Profiling and Its Effects on Community”

• This 11-minute video offers one speaker’s ideas on racial profiling. (Content Warning: This sensitive topic may require additional instruction or discussion.)
• Shared themes include Discovering a Sense of Belonging and Maturation and Childhood.
• What does the speaker claim creates distrust between the government and those who are racially profiled? What statistics are used to back his claim? Why does the speaker believe smaller injustices regarding racial profiling should be addressed?

Chapters 12-17

Reading Check

1. What does Haley receive from her father?

2. How does Amari begin telling his story?

3. When does Amari suggest the ARTT group should meet again?

4. What does Amari’s father tell him not to play with?

Short Answer

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

1. What does Amari’s father consider childish and how does that make Amari feel?

2. What creates the division between Amari and Ashton?

Chapters 18-23

Reading Check

1. Who takes care of Holly’s hair?

2. In Haley’s flashback, what does her uncle say her mother died from?

3. When they first meet, what does Amari ask Ashton?

4. Why is Ashton being bullied?

5. Where is Esteban’s father being held?

Short Answer

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

1. Why does Ashton want to tell his story with the voice recording off?

2. How do the members of the ARTT group show support for Ashton?

Paired Resource

“What Constitutional Rights Do Undocumented Immigrants Have?”

• This article outlines the rights of undocumented immigrants.
• A shared theme includes Storytelling and Personal Identity.
• What rights are undocumented immigrants given under the law and what rights are prohibited? What rights does Esteban have as an American-born citizen? Why might those rights become complicated because his parents are undocumented?

Chapters 24-30

Reading Check

1. What is Haley cautious about telling her uncle?

2. When Haley’s parents decide to marry, what does Haley’s paternal grandfather disapprove of?

3. Where did Haley’s parents meet?

4. Amari compares Esteban’s situation to what culture?

5. Where is Tiago from?

Short Answer

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

1. Why has Esteban been missing from the ARTT group?

2. What is revealed about Haley’s father and his conviction?

Chapters 31-34

Reading Check

1. What does Amari call Holly after she is given new shoes?

2. Who reminds the ARTT group that Ms. Laverne wants them to talk and not fight?

3. What are Holly and Haley doing when Holly encourages Haley to share her story with the ARTT group?

4. In what artistic way does Esteban’s father share the events in the immigration detention center?

5. Where did Haley’s mother and Kira meet?

Short Answer

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

1. How does Haley’s story about her mother and father inspire Esteban?

2. Why does Holly make the claim that Haley is wealthy?

Paired Resource

“Mass Incarceration: Punishing the Families”

• This article describes the impact of incarceration on family members.
• Shared themes include Maturation and Childhood, Discovering a Sense of Belonging, and Storytelling and Personal Identity.
• What might a child of an incarcerated parent experience? What programs are recommended for bridging the gaps between incarcerated parents and their children? What is the cost of incarceration per year? What is the financial impact of incarceration on families?

Chapters 35-40

Reading Check

1. What comic book character does Amari look up to?

2. What does Holly wish her superpower was?

3. What does Haley wish her superpower was?

4. Who wishes they had the ability to shoot electricity?

5. Where is Esteban after Easter break?

6. What does Haley ask her father to play on the piano?

Short Answer

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

1. What claim does Amari make about superheroes and how they get their superpowers?

2. Who is Haley’s superhero? Why do you think she feels that way?

Recommended Next Reads

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

• This novel is about a girl who defends a local outcast amid controversy in her community.
• Shared themes include Maturation and Childhood, Discovering a Sense of Belonging, and Storytelling and Personal Identity.
• Shared topics include bullying, prejudice, and injustice.
• Wolf Hollow on SuperSummary

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

• This novel is about a boy who goes on a road trip with his grandmother while she relays accounts of African Americans during the 1950s and 1960s.
• Shared themes include Maturation and Childhood, Discovering a Sense of Belonging, and Storytelling and Personal Identity.
• Shared topics include racism, violence, and racial profiling.
• Clean Getaway on SuperSummary