A  JAR  OF  DREAMS  BY  YOSHIKO  UCHIDA  

English  6    |    Reading  Guide  

Ch.  1  &  2  Short  Answer  

1.  Who  does  Mama  work  for?    2.  What  comes  in  the  mail  that  is  going  to  change  Rinko’s  

summer?  3.  What  year  does  the  story  take  place?    4.  Why  does  Rinko  despise  walking  past  Old  Wilbur  J.  Starr’s  

laundry?  5.  What  is  Cal  going  to  school  to  become?    6.  Who  is  the  narrator?    7.  Is  the  story  told  from  a  first  or  third  person  point  of  view?    8.  What  are  the  names  of  Rinko’s  brothers?    9.  What  type  of  business  does  Rinko’s  papa  own?    

Ch.  1  &  2  Extended  Response  

1.  How  do  Mama  and  Papa  meet?    Why  do  you  think  they  met  the  way  they  did?    

2.  Why  do  you  think  Cal  told  Rinko  that  even  though  he  might  become  an  engineer,  he  will  probably  end  up  working  at  a  vegetable  market?      

Ch.  3  &  4  Short  Answer  

1.  What  was  wrong  with  Aunt  Waka’s  foot  in  the  picture?    2.  What  did  Mama  announce  that  she  wanted  to  do?    3.  What  did  Mrs.  Sugar  give  to  Mama?    4.  What  was  bothering  Papa?    5.  What  did  Mama  have  in  the  big  trunk?    6.  What  did  Mama  tell  Rinko  she  once  dreamed  of  becoming  

before  moving  to  America?    7.  What  did  Cal  offer  to  do  to  help?    8.  What  would  happen  if  Papa  didn’t  pay  the  rent  soon?    9.  Why  was  Mama  so  talkaWve  when  Papa  came  home  

from  work?    

Ch.  3  &  4  Extended  Response  

1.  Explain  why  Papa  was  upset.      2.  What  do  we  know  about  Mama’s  character  

from  the  things  she  had  in  her  trunk?    Please  explain  and  use  details  from  the  story.    

Ch.  5  &  6  Short  Answer  

1.  Where  was  Cal  going  for  the  summer?    2.  What  was  Cal  going  to  do  for  work?    3.  Who  did  Tami’s  mother  try  to  fix  up  with  Aunt  Waka?  4.  Who  was  Aunt  Waka  praying  for  in  Rinko’s  room?  5.  What  did  Aunt  Waka  offer  Rinko?  6.  How  did  Aunt  Waka  arrive  in  America?  7.  Why  did  Rinko  rush  out  of  Aunt  Waka’s  room?  8.  Why  didn’t  Rinko  hug  Cal  when  he  leY?    9.  Who  did  Rinko  call  aYer  Cal  leY?    

Ch.  5  &  6  Extended  Response  

1.  Why  do  you  think  the  story  is  called,  “A  Jar  of  Dreams”?    What  does  the  Wtle  mean  to  you?    Please  explain.      

2.  Write  about  a  Wme  when  you  got  to  meet  a  relaWve  for  the  first  Wme.    What  were  they  like?    Were  they  just  how  you  expected?    Please  explain.      

Ch.  7  &  8  Short  Answer  

1.  What  did  everyone  at  the  table  encourage  Cal  to  do?    2.  Why  is  Joji  going  to  put  Maxwell  outside  for  the  night?    3.  What  happened  when  Rinko,  Joji,  and  Papa  went  to  pick  

up  the  bundles?    4.  What  happened  to  Papa’s  car?  5.  What  did  Cal  tell  Rinko  he  would  do?    6.  What  did  Joji  find  in  the  mailbox?    7.  Why  does  Papa  think  the  Starr  Laundry  is  the  suspect?    8.  What  did  Cal  announce  at  dinner?    9.  Why  is  Mama’s  laundry  business  ge_ng  bad?  

Ch.  7  &  8  Extended  Response  

1.  Rinko  uses  the  word  “vicious”  when  she  speaks  of  the  Starr  Laundry  and  how  they  conWnue  to  bother  the  family  with  their  threats.    What  do  you  predict  might  happen  next?    Please  explain.  

2.  Why  is  Cal’s  dream  more  important  to  Papa  than  his  own  dreams?    Please  explain.    

Ch.  9,  10,  11  Short  Answer  1.  What  happened  when  Maxwell  started  barking?  2.  What  did  Papa  and  Uncle  Kanda  decide  to  do  about  Wilbur  Starr?    3.  Why  is  Uncle  Kanda  going  to  be  his  partner?    4.  What  were  Papa’s  dreams?  5.  What  happened  when  Rinko  fell  on  her  face  in  the  doorway  of  

Starr  Laundry?  6.  What  announcement  did  Papa  make  at  dinner  on  Sunday?  7.  What  happened  to  Maxwell?  8.  What  did  papa  do  when  Wilbur  Starr  went  aYer  Rinko  and  Joji?    9.  What  did  Aunt  Waka  tell  the  family  they  should  do  about  Wilbur  

Starr?  

Ch.  9,  10,  11  Extended  Response  

1.  Explain  why  Rinko  can  now  stand  up  straight.    Why  does  she  feel  so  different?    

2.  Explain  how  Rinko  and  her  family  felt  aYer  Papa  and  Uncle  Kanda  confronted  Wilbur  Starr.  

Ch.  12,  13,  14  Short  Answer  

1.  What  did  Rinko  tell  Mama  and  Aunt  Waka  that  made  them  smile?      

2.  What  would  be  in  Rinko’s  next  jar?    3.  Why  did  Tami  come  with  the  family  to  the  zoo?      4.  What  did  Rinko  finally  share  about  Aunt  Waka?    5.  Where  did  Rinko  put  the  kimono  that  Aunt  Waka  brought  

her?      6.  Where  did  Rinko  want  to  take  Aunt  Waka  before  she  leY  

for  Japan?      7.  Where  did  Uncle  Kanda  go?      8.  Why  did  Uncle  Kanda  want  to  see  Rinko?    9.   Where  did  Joji  suggest  taking  Aunt  Waka?    

Ch.  12,  13,  14  Extended  Response  

1.  What  gave  Rinko  the  strength  to  speak  up  to  the  nurse  in  the  hospital?  How  did  she  feel  aYerwards?    Have  you  ever  experienced  this  treatment  by  an  adult?    Why?    How  did  you  handle  it?    

2.  Explain  why  Rinko  wouldn’t  wear  the  kimono  to  visit  Uncle  Kanda  in  the  hospital.      Please  describe  her  feelings.