Characters & Feelings
She is the brave older sister who crossed the wooden bridge after sunset to help her brother
Who is Maya
Maya had lived near the edge of these mysterious woods for three years.
What are the Whispering Woods?
This shiny metal object was accidentally dropped near the bridge and washed away.
What is a brass compass?
This word from the story means "dared to go into an unknown or risky place."
What is ventured?
According to local legend, the ancient oak tree at the center of the forest would do this.
What is whisper secrets?
He is the younger brother who scrambled down the embankment after his falling object.
Who is Toby?
Before this event, Maya had never crossed past this old wooden structure after sunset.
What is the wooden bridge?
Maya found Toby kneeling beside the twisted roots of this giant tree.
What is a massive oak tree?
A traditional story handed down from the past that people tell about the woods is called this.
What is a legend?
The words "Look closer, brave traveler" seemed to be spoken when these danced in the breeze.
What are leaves?
When Toby ran toward the dark woods, Maya’s heart thumped against her ribs like this trapped creature.
What is a bird?
The story takes place on a crisp afternoon during this autumn month.
What is October?
Instead of floating down the stream, the compass was found resting dry in this spot on the tree trunk.
What is a notch in the bark?
The gray bark of the ancient oak tree was covered in this soft, green plant material.
What is (velvety) moss?
Maya realized the "whispering" sound was actually created by this natural force blowing through hollow spaces.
What is the wind (or breeze)?
The note carved into the oak tree said it was for those who venture in love, not this.
What is greed?
The dense forest canopy blocked out this warm-colored light source.
What is amber sunlight?
Above the compass, Maya discovered this tiny carved feature complete with a brass latch.
What is a tiny wooden door?
The story uses this word, meaning thick and tightly packed, to describe the leaf canopy overhead.
What is dense?
The trunk of the oak tree was so wide that it was larger than this many kids standing hand-in-hand.
What is three?
By the end of the story, Maya realized the forest was much less this than she had once believed.
What is terrifying
Toby's compass was carried away toward the heart of the woods by this moving body of water.
What is a babbling brook (or stream)?
The story ends with Maya taking Toby's hand and walking back toward the warmth of this.
What is the setting sun?
Maya did this to the compass from the tree notch, which means to get it back or pick it up.
What is retrieved?
Maya learned that fear often comes from this, which becomes less scary once you understand it.
What is the unknown?