👽 Alien Encounters
What is Mr. Smith’s true identity?
He is an alien.
Who is the main character who discovers the secret?
Susan Simmons
Who does Susan follow home?
Mr. Smith
Why is Susan suspicious of Mr. Smith?
His strange behavior and Susan’s observations make her suspicious.
What genre is the novel?
Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure
What name is Mr. Smith also known by?
Broxholm.
Who is Susan’s classmate whom she tells about Mr. Smith?
Peter Thompson
What strange sound does Susan hear at Mr. Smith’s house?
A bizarre noise Susan compares to cats in a blender.
Why does Peter first think Susan is lying or teasing him?
The claim sounds unbelievable, and Peter initially thinks Susan is making fun of him.
What is one clue that Mr. Smith is not an ordinary teacher?
His alien face, unusual technology, strange sounds, or secret communication. looking at the sun, hates music
What does Mr. Smith do that reveals his alien appearance?
He removes/peels away his human-looking face, revealing his alien appearance.
Which character initially gets into a fight with Peter?
Duncan.
What happens to the mirror in Mr. Smith’s house?
It becomes a video/communication screen.
Why does Susan tell Peter to treat the alien situation like a game?
She wants Peter to stop thinking she is teasing him and play along so she can explain what is really happening.
What does Broxholm plan to do with students?
He plans to kidnap/take students into space.
How does Susan learn about Broxholm’s plan?
Susan secretly observes/listens to him communicating and learns what he is planning.
How would you describe Susan based on her decision to follow Mr. Smith?
Curious, brave, determined, or risk-taking (use your best judgement).
What happens with the note Susan writes about Mr. Smith?
Mr. Smith returns the note to Susan without saying anything.
What does Susan’s decision to investigate show about her character?
She is courageous, curious, and willing to take risks to discover the truth.
Why is finding evidence important to Susan and Peter?
Because their story is unbelievable; evidence could help them prove that Broxholm is really an alien.
What evidence convinces Susan that Mr. Smith really is an alien?
She sees his alien appearance and witnesses his strange communication technology/conversation.
How does Peter’s reaction to Susan’s news differ from Susan’s reaction to discovering the alien?
Peter is initially upset and thinks Susan is teasing him, while Susan has already moved from shock toward figuring out what to do.
Explain how Susan’s curiosity moves the plot forward.
Her suspicions cause her to follow Mr. Smith, which leads to discovering his identity and plan and creates the story’s central conflict.
What might be a theme developing in the story? Support your answer with an event.
Courage, friendship, appearances can be deceiving, or standing up when something is wrong,(use your best judgement).
If you were Susan, what piece of evidence would you use to convince someone that Broxholm is an alien?
Answers will vary, but students should identify a convincing piece of evidence from Susan’s experience and explain why it would prove their claim.