Abel’s Island Reading Comprehension Workbook

Newbery Honor award winner Abel’s Island tells the story of a wealthy, pampered, mouse named Abel who, in 1907, was swept away by the torrential flood waters of a storm while picnicking with his wife Amanda. After the rushing waters subsided the untested mouse found himself on a lonely island in the middle of a river where he remained trapped, despite is best efforts to escape, for a year. During his stay on the island Abel found himself discovering new skills, learning self-reliance, connecting with his primitive side, and developing as a mouse. He began to question the luxurious civilized world from which he came, and discovered talents he never knew he had, which provide him the promise of a new purpose in live.

Select quotes from Abel’s Island:

“How deeply one felt when alone.”

“I think you’ve found your vocation.”

“The stubbornness of his character stood him now in good stead. He refused to consider himself defeated.”

“Abel also kept busy taking it easy. Only when taking it easy, he’d learned, could one properly do one’s wondering.”

“This was a particular star his nanny had chosen for him as a child. As a child, he would sometimes talk to this star, but only when he was his most serious, real self, and not being any sort of a show-off or clown. As he grew up, the practice had somehow worn off.
He looked up at his old friend as if to say, “You see my predicament.”
The star seemed to respond, “I see.”
Abel next put the question: “What shall I do?”
The star seemed to answer, “You will do what you will do.” For some reason this reply strengthened Abel’s belief in himself. Sleep gently enfolded him. The constellations proceeded across the hushed heavens as if tiptoeing past the dreaming mouse on his high branch.” “