78 pages 2 hours read

Betty Ren Wright

The Dollhouse Murders

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1983

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

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.

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. Who does Ellen claim is visiting her, causing her to cancel her plans with Amy?

2. What does Amy find in Grandma and Grandpa Treloar’s attic, comparing it to a four-leaf clover?

3. Where was Aunt Clare living before she lost her job?

Short Answer

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

1. Why is Amy concerned about maintaining her friendship with Ellen? What evidence might exist in the novel supporting Amy’s concern?

2. What does Louann do to cause Amy to believe she is difficult?

Paired Resource

What Is Symbolism?

  • This 1-minute video from Chungdahm Learning explores the use of symbols in literature.
  • Shared themes include Different Kinds of Abilities and Their Value.
  • What symbol is used in this video to explain symbolism? Why might symbols take on different meanings depending on the context? What symbols might occur in The Dollhouse Murders?

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. What does Louann ask Amy to take to Aunt Clare’s house?

2. What do Amy and Ellen play with at Aunt Clare’s house?

3.