THE MESSENGER BIRD BY RUTH EASTHAM

BLOOMFIELD HALL TEACHERS’ NOTES

Compiled by Ms Angela Williams

with assistance from Bloomfield Hall English teachers
Ms Uzma Khan, Ms Maria Sufyan
Ms Zunaira Ashfaq & Ms Myra Khalid
 THE MESSENGER BIRD BY RUTH EASTHAM

The setting
This novel is set in present day England but some of the background of the plot concerns the
Second World War 1939-1945. Before starting the novel, read with the class ‘World War
Two From My Point of View’ (enclosed). This article is a brief introduction to the war period
which the writer actually experienced. It refers to and explains a number of references in
the novel, so is an aid to understanding. In these notes, World War II is abbreviated as
WWII, and World War I as WWI.

Everyday speech
The story is told in the first person by a twelve year old boy, Nathan Vane. The language
used is deliberately colloquial, so that we feel that Nathan is actually talking to us. The
language is not slang but is sometimes not grammatically correct: the narrator sometimes
says; e.g: “Me and my friends went outside” which is what British young people often say,
although grammatically it should be “My friends and I went outside.”
Similarly, the narrator often uses ‘like’ instead of ‘as if’, a form often used in everyday
speech in Britain today.

The abbreviation (coll) will be given in these notes to refer to such colloquialisms. They
should be explained to the children, but not necessarily noted down.

Vocabulary
The flow of the story is spoiled by stopping to write each word in the vocabulary books. I
suggest that the teacher explains the words briefly as the class reads, and then gets the
class to write the words after reading a full chapter, checking to see if pupils remember the
explanation given during the reading. Only words marked with an asterisk should be
written in the vocabulary books, and the teacher should choose from them only those which
the children do not already know. The others are for oral explanation only, if necessary.

Comprehension questions
These are suggested questions which may be done orally only, or in writing. If the teacher
decides to set them for written work, she must first discuss them with the class and ensure
that everyone understands the meaning of the questions and can give an appropriate
answer, but then must allow the students to write their answers in their own words.

Chapter 1: Plot Night

This chapter opens with a Guy Fawkes bonfire scene. In England on November 5th every
year, people light bonfires in gardens and in parks to burn the ‘guy’, and colourful firework
displays take place. This is because there was a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in
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London in 1605 but the plot failed. The plotters (who would nowadays be called terrorists)
were caught and executed. One of the plotters was a man called Guy Fawkes.

Almost every year since that time, the British have celebrated the failure of the terrorists’
plan. Little children chant: ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November, Gunpowder,
treason and plot!’ They make a ‘guy’ by stuffing old clothes with straw or newspaper and
setting a mask of a face on top, and their guy sits on top of the bonfire and there is cheering
when the fire is lit and the guy burns.

On such cold November nights, people wear warm clothes and eat food cooked outside over
the fire.
Interactive board/visual aids: Pictures of Guy Fawkes Night celebrations, sparklers etc

Vocabulary:
wisp * a light, thin piece
a wisp of hair blew across her cheek.
perch a high place to sit on
to dangle* to hang
singed* (pronounced as in ‘hinged’) slightly burnt
I singed my eyebrows when I blew out the candles.
to waft* to give off a light, lovely smell
The aroma of coffee wafted through the room.
off her journalism course (coll) from her journalism course
to sprawl* to lie clumsily
He sprawled on the bed, completely exhausted.
bloke* (coll) man
He’s a good bloke!
to inherit* to receive as a gift from someone who has died
I inherited some money from my aunt.
off Great-Auntie Hilda (coll) from Great-Auntie Hilda
junk* rubbish
This is the junk room where we keep our old things.
symbolic* having special meaning
This ring is symbolic of his love.
cheapskate* (coll) a person who hates spending money, a miser
He is such a cheapskate! He won’t give me anything.
posh* (coll) upper class
The posh lady called a taxi.
sparkler a metal stick firework, held in the hand while it sparkles and fizzes
commute* journey to work
The commute from my home into town is very long.
deadline* time when work must be finished and submitted
I am working to a deadline so have no time to talk to
you.
to bung up to stopper, to fill up
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stump * a short version of what a thing once was (e.g tree
stump)
The pixie sat on the tree stump.
to smirk* to smile in a cheeky or satisfied way
‘You are going to lose your job,’ he smirked at me.
flash (coll) impressive, expensive
like he was 007 (coll) as if he was James Bond
like he was ill (coll) as if he was ill
clump a thick group
to splutter* to speak with difficulty, to spit while speaking
‘What is the meaning of this?’ he spluttered.
bellow* a loud cry, a shout
We heard a frightening bellow coming from the yard.
to bore* to drill, to pierce
His eyes seemed to bore into mine.
ruddy bloody (a mild swear word)
to stumble* to trip and almost fall
I stumbled as I walked along the uneven pavement.
to lurch to swing sideways

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. What has just happened to Nathan’s father?

2. Who do you think the two men must be?
3. How do you think Nathan feels?
4. Which TWO things are the family and friends celebrating as the story opens?
5. Name Nathan’s two friends, ‘his best mates’ mentioned in the chapter.
6. What is the name of the family’s new home?
7. How did the family acquire (get) the new home?
8. Find a simile on page 5 and quote it. Is it an effective simile? Does it help you to picture
and feel the scene?

Chapter 2: The First Clue

Vocabulary
air-raid shelter a shelter from bombs, dug into the back garden during the war
to glint* to shine, to sparkle
The dropped diamond ring glinted in the grass.
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muffled* (of sound) unclear, covered-over
His muffled voice was difficult to hear.
emblem* badge design
What is your school emblem?
to swarm* to move in large numbers, covering everything
The bees swarmed all over the field.
carcass* a dead body, meat
A carcass was hanging in the butcher’s shop.
musty old, smelling of damp
blunder* foolish mistake
Don’t make silly blunders in your exam.
duvet (pronounce doovay) bed quilt
a shrine a holy place, not to be touched or altered
frail* delicate, weak
The frail old lady tried to speak.
to snuffle to sniff
to rack one’s brain* to think really hard, to search one’s memory
I must rack my brain to remember where I left my phone.
the Chippie the fish and chip shop
Robert Frost a famous American poet
to scramble* to climb clumsily
We scrambled up the hill.
to squint* to screw up one’s eyes to see clearly
I squinted into the distance but could see nothing.
fake* false, not real
These diamonds are fake and worth nothing.
to retrieve* to find and bring back
The dog ran to retrieve the stick.
dire* terrible, awful
The poor people are in dire need of food.
to peer* to look closely
We peered at him curiously.
wedged* stuck, unable to move
My book is wedged behind the cupboard.
to waggle to wave and wriggle
to scrawl* to write untidily
He scrawled his name in his book.
a riddle* a mystery to be solved
We cannot solve this difficult riddle.
literally* in actual terms, in real terms
He sank in the water and was literally drowning.
laterally* sideways, in a wider framework, “outside the box”, using
imagination
Lateral thinkers can often solve problems.
hatboxes boxes containing Auntie Hilda’s hats
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eerie* strange, ‘creepy’
I have an eerie feeling that this place is haunted.
drive(noun) pathway for the car
spiral going round and round like a screw
to lumber* to move heavily
The elephant lumbered along the path.
draught* (pronounced draft) a pull of air, a gust
The open window was causing a draught in the room.
to whimper* to cry softly
The injured dog was whimpering.
crammed pushed tightly
clutter mess, pile of many things
tea chests large plywood boxes
lavender a sweet-smelling plant, dried and used in drawers & cupboards
grime* greasy dirt
The workmen were covered in grime.
mucky dirty
dinted having dents
gramophone old-fashioned machine for playing music
clunky (coll) heavy, big and clumsy
wonky (coll) unstable, not straight
ration books used during WWII to share out limited food in equal amounts
records discs of music
sleeves covers for records, made of card
fusty old and stale smelling
nutty (coll) slightly mad
cut up (coll) upset, unhappy
a decade* a period of ten years
This record is many decades old.
rickety unsteady, about to fall apart
The rickety chair fell apart when I sat on it.
to round to walk round
to fumble* to make clumsy movements with one’s fingers
He fumbled in his bag and brought out an envelope.
tassels hanging decoration (around a lamp-shade)
mouldy* grey-green with damp and age
Mouldy food will make you sick.
mannequin model for dress-making, a type of statue, a dummy figure
R.A.F Royal Air Force (British)
frayed* coming apart at the edges
He thought his frayed jeans made him look cool.
to smear* to spread while wiping
He smeared butter on his bread.

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groove* a line cut into something
There were grooves cut into the wood to allow water to run
down.
weird* strange, odd, peculiar
He is so weird! He always wears green trousers.
symbol* a meaningful sign, an item with special meaning
A heart is a symbol of love.
spongy (pronounced sponge-y) like a sponge, containing water
to crane to stretch
to tear* to race
We tore down the road to tell him the news.

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. Who is Hannah?
2. Where has Nathan’s mother gone?
3. Why is the lawn ‘silvery’? (p.7)
4. Explain why there is an air-raid shelter in the garden.
5. Briefly sum up everything that the Special Services people did at Nathan’s home.
6. ‘He was the kid she’d never had.’ (p. 9). What does this mean?
7. What do the books in the bedroom tell you about Dad’s and Nathan’s interests?
8. Why did Auntie Hilda keep asking Dad who he was?
9. Why does Nathan think his father swore at him and called him Nathan instead of Nat?
(p.10)
10. What does Nathan find at the back of the secret drawer?
11. ‘Bare water pipes creaked and hissed.’ (p 15) This is an example of onomatopoeia,
words making the sound they are describing. Why do you think the writer uses this? What
is its effect?
12. What does Nathan see through the eye?

Chapter 3: The Ghost in the Well

Interactive board/visual aid: picture of a Welsh dresser, WWII posters, picture of a garden
well with a metal bucket.

Vocabulary
to hurtle* to run fast and without care
The children hurtled dangerously along the corridor.
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Welsh dresser a wooden display case for plates etc with cupboards below
slogan* a short, catchy phrase
‘Go Nawaz Go’ was the slogan in Pakistan last year.
Tell Nobody, Not Even Her British soldiers in WWII were warned to tell no one where they
were posted, not even a beautiful new girlfriend, in case she
was a German spy.
a white paint ‘W’ air-raid wardens had ‘W’ for Warden on their helmets.
Wardens made sure everyone ran to shelter when the bombs
were about to fall. They also ensured that the black-out blinds
were in place so that no lights showed the enemy pilots where
people lived.
carrier pigeon a pigeon which carried messages tied to its leg
to fling open* to throw open without care
She flung open the door and found the robbers.
gravel small stones and pebbles
to tremble* to shake slightly
I trembled with fear.
wound up tense and anxious
manky (coll) horrible
fleece very warm jacket, like lamb’s wool
to heave* to pull hard
Heave on the rope and pull the ship onto the beach.
to rifle* to search and rob
They rifled through all my things to find what they wanted.
to shove* to push roughly
He shoved the proof in my face.
to skirt to go around the edge
magpie a black and white bird
clang sound made by striking heavy metal (onomatopoeia)
rod stick
wound up turned round and round to bring up the bucket
to reckon* to suppose, to estimate, to guess
I reckon he will not come.
frustration* annoyance, irritation
I realised with frustration that all my work was for nothing.
to grit one’s teeth* to set one’s teeth firmly, ready to do something difficult
I gritted my teeth and marched into battle.
to wrench* to pull hard and violently
I wrenched the door open in my hurry to escape.
a jolt a sudden, sharp movement
a thrill* a feeling of joy, excitement
It was such a thrill to meet the band!
to ripple to move in waves
to clatter to make a sound of metal against something hard (onomat)

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to hover* to balance in mid-air
The helicopter hovered above the village.
suspended* left hanging
The court case was suspended until the following month.
to pivot to turn on the spot
unfurl open out
welded stuck hard
coincidence* two things happening strangely at the same time
What a coincidence that you and I should meet in Hong Kong!
bound to be certain to be
to soothe* to comfort, to make better
He soothed my fears and told me all would be well.
slimy* horribly slippery, smooth and wet
The unwashed towel felt slimy.
gunk (coll) horrible dirty substance

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. Look at the top of page 19: ‘The wind moaned down the chimney, making the last of the
wood in the fireplace flare into rusty orange crusts, and the smell of smoke wafted on to
me. Bones lumbered past and lay down in his basket whimpering.’
What atmosphere is created by the author’s choice of words?
2. Why does Nathan not go to bed and sleep?
3. From the first paragraph on page 20, ‘I made my way……………….brick wall’ quote TWO
examples of onomatopoeia.
4. Why did Nathan grit his teeth? (page 21) What did he have to do?
5. Where does Nathan find the letters FIND STRUM. V O ?
6. How do we know that he feels a sense of triumph?

Chapter 4: An Open Book

Vocabulary
Teachers should note that much of the vocabulary from earlier chapters is repeated in the
following chapters. Teachers should remind students that they already know these words
and should prompt students to remember them. Only new words are listed below.

bolt upright suddenly and completely up straight, as after a nightmare

settee sofa
9
pendulum a metal device in a clock which swings from side to side
mantelpiece* shelf above a fire-place
The clock was on the mantelpiece.
luminous* shining with light
Her face was luminous with happiness.
Roman numerals* I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X
to slump* to fall back clumsily
I slumped back in my chair, exhausted.
fuzzy unclear, hazy
to jab* to poke, push
He jabbed me in the chest with his thin finger.
poker metal stick with a handle, specially made for poking a fire
horseshoes metal hoof protectors, nowadays used as decorations and
symbols of good luck
numb* without feeling
After the injection, my mouth was numb.
to tramp to walk heavily
to dump* to place or drop heavily
I dumped the heavy load on the ground.
stumpy short and wide
to twitch to make small, quick, jerky movements
potential* possible, likely
This bright child is a potential doctor!
snort (noun) a sound of forcing air down the nose, showing disgust
to mumble* to speak unclearly
Please speak clearly and don’t mumble.
to merge* to join, to come together
The two rivers merged and flowed into the sea.
shift (noun) particular hours to be worked; e.g 6pm–2a.m
ivory* elephant tusk material, used for piano keys & knife handles
The ivory trade kills many elephants.
coronation cup cup decorated to celebrate the crowning (coronation) of King
George VI (1936)
to scowl* to frown, to look moody
She scowled at me when I told her it was time to go.
to unravel* to unroll, to unwind
I unravelled the ball of string.
screwed up (coll) messed up, wrong
to plonk (coll) to place heavily
lukewarm* medium warm
I don’t drink lukewarm milk.
hovel* small, miserable hut
The beggar lived in a hovel.
mortgage-free (pronounced ‘more gidge’)needing no more payments, free of cost
terrace terraced house, house in a row of other houses
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dense* thick, (coll) stupid
The dense forest was very dark.
Don’t be so dense! The answer is obvious.
knackered (coll) dead tired, exhausted
speckled* spotted, dotted
The hen laid a speckled egg.
in a strop (coll) in a bad temper
willing wishing hard
to nibble* to eat tiny pieces
The mouse nibbled the cheese.
distracted* thinking of other things, not concentrating, lost in thought
I was distracted and did not see the car coming towards me.
up to you it’s your choice
Match of the Day popular TV football programme, with distinctive opening
theme tune
obsessive-compulsive needing constantly repeated patterns of behaviour to feel safe
a drinker someone who needs daily alcohol
footie (coll) football
to tut to make a click sound with one’s mouth to show annoyance
to mope* to be inactive and feel miserable
Don’t sit and mope; do something!
to whir to go round and round quickly
dodgy-looking (coll) unreliable, unstable
mournful* sad
Mournful music was played at the funeral.
tatty (coll) old and worn out, frayed
to scuttle to move hurriedly
sleet mixture of rain and snow
to jut* to stick out
A metal stick jutted out dangerously.
Remembrance Day 11th November every year:- a 2 minute silence is observed
throughout the UK in memory of all the lives lost in WWI and
WWII, and to honour the soldiers who died. People buy a red
poppy for charity and wear it; red poppies grew in the fields in
Northern France and Belgium where hundreds of thousands of
soldiers died in WWI. (1914-1918)
service a church service
mottled* marked with spots
I sat in front of the fire for so long that my legs became
mottled.
by fluke* by pure chance, luck, not by hard work
He managed to pass the exam by pure fluke.
to thumb through to use the thumb to flick through the pages
hideous* very ugly
Oh, that monster is hideous!
11
club* a heavy, thick stick, used as a weapon
The monster carried a club for hitting people.
to leaf through to turn the pages
to tingle* to feel a little stinging or pricking
My fingertips were tingling because of the cold.
Hansel and Gretel children in a fairy story
to nag* to repeatedly remind someone to do something
He kept nagging me to go to the bank.
muzzle* nose and mouth of an animal
The dog had a thorn in its muzzle.
to clamber* to climb clumsily
The baby tried to clamber out of her cot.
to blare (out) to announce loudly (like a trumpet)
bleary-eyed* with tired eyes
After reading all night, I was bleary-eyed.
casual* relaxed
It will be a casual dinner, nothing formal.
to squirm* to show or feel pain/embarrassment
I squirmed with embarrassment when they called out my
name.
grim* serious, stern, joyless
The news is grim: ten people have died.
to yank* to pull roughly
He yanked my hair and I cried out.
heavy (coll) serious
to rummage* to search through
I rummaged through the drawer to find my keys.
spag bol Mum’s name for spaghetti Bolognese, a popular dish
to be on to something to have found the right clue, to be on the right path
to sidle to move sideways, not to be noticed
to drool* to let saliva drop out of one’s mouth
I was drooling over that delicious recipe.
murky dark, gloomy

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. Why does Nathan at first think that it is just starting to get dark outside? What time of
day is it in fact?
2. Quote the simile in the last paragraph on page 24. Does it help you understand how
Nathan feels? Have you ever felt like that?

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3. Look at the paragraph on page 25, beginning “I stared at the photographs….” How many
times is the word ‘Dad’ mentioned in the paragraph? Why has the writer done this?
4. Why is the sentence “But only Mum got out.” in a paragraph of its own? (page 25)
5. How does Nathan feel after thinking about his birthday? (page 27)
6. How does Hannah know about aspects of the law?
7. What years are spelled out in Roman numerals with the fridge magnets? (page 29)
8. What do the words: ‘splashed’, ‘plonked’ and ‘slapped’ tell us about Hannah’s mood?
(page 29)
9. Look at page 31 and sum up what we learn about Josh on this page.
10. What do we learn about Sasha on pages 31 and 32?
11. The poster mentioned at the top of page 33 ‘shouted’ at Nathan. This is a metaphor as a
poster cannot actually shout. Why has the writer used this metaphor?
12. Look at the top of page 36. ‘Heights weren’t my strong point.’ What does Nathan mean
by this?
13. Explain what Remembrance Day is in the UK. What flower do people wear for
remembrance?
14. Where does Nathan find more information about Lily Kenley?
15. In which year was Lily born?
16. What does STRUM stand for?
17. What does V stand for and what does Nathan find in relation to this?
18. What does O relate to?
19. Which word tells us that Nathan feels bad about lying to his mother? (page 40)
20. Where is Nathan going at the end of the chapter and why is he short of time?

Chapter 5: The Breadcrumbs Trail

Interactive board/visual aid: a forest in winter

Vocabulary
brook stream
brambles prickly bushes
stuff our faces (coll) eat lots (of blackberries from the bramble bush)
get Dad off (coll) release Dad, prove his innocence
a gingerbread house… from the children’s story ‘Hansel and Gretel’
spun* past tense of ‘spin’, to turn quickly
I spun round and saw my brother creeping behind me.
in stitches* unable to stop laughing
We were in stitches when he told that funny story.
clammy damp and sticky
to trudge* to walk heavily
We trudged through the mud.

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smothered* covered completely
The cake was smothered in chocolate.
rhododendron deep coloured flower (not in bloom in winter)
missile* flying weapon of attack
The missile hit the centre of the city and caused many deaths.
phantom*(adj) ghostly, imagined
It was a phantom dog, not a real one.
phantom* (noun) ghost
The phantom chased the ghost hunters across the field.
to glimpse* to catch sight of
I glimpsed my friend in the crowd.
to get hold of me to contact me
to sprint* to run fast and lightly
We sprinted down the road.
tarmac black covering of a road
spooked (coll) afraid (of ghostly things)
hollow a valley or low-lying place
going mental (coll) going mad with anger
verge border/edge of the road
grey-white bursts the vapour from his breath in the cold air
lichen grey-green fungus growing on rocks
Bletchley Park headquarters of Britain’s code-breakers during WWII
milestone an old stone sign, indicating the distance to a place, usually
about 2 foot high with its base buried deep in the earth
it laid flat (coll) it lay flat
to scour to search thoroughly
brittle* hard and thin, easy to snap off
The ice was thin and brittle.
graffiti* writing on the wall
The graffiti looked colourful and expressed criticism of the
government.
to prise off* to lever off
I prised the lid off the jam jar.
to judder to shake, to tremble
asap (coll) as soon as possible

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. List 7 words in the first paragraph of the chapter which create an unpleasant
atmosphere. (Do not write sentences; just the 7 words)
2. What do Nathan’s childhood memories tell us about his relationship with his father?
14
3. Describe briefly the terrible experience Nathan had in the woods as a six year old child.
(page 46)
4. Why does the narrator compare the birds to ‘little missiles’?(page 47) How is he feeling
at this time?
5. Why is Nathan’s mother ‘probably going mental’?
6. Where do you think Nathan must go next to follow the trail?
7. Where does Nathan find the words: LION EAGLE?
8. Explain how Nathan knows that the news from the solicitor must be very serious.

Chapter 6: Mr Edwards

Vocabulary
heck (coll) a word used instead of ‘hell’
sarcastic* saying something which one does not mean, or saying the
opposite of what one means to make a bitter point. E.g ‘Don’t
you look smart!’ to emphasise that someone looks really
untidy.
‘Of course I love my home,’ said the prisoner sarcastically,
pointing to the prison cell.
suspicious* showing doubt, thinking the worst
I was suspicious of that man’s odd behaviour
Saved by the secretary Nathan did not have to answer the awkward question because
the secretary had come to call them
the stuff (coll) the items, the things
Union Jack the British flag
surrender* (noun) giving up, admission of defeat
The surrender took place on the battle field.
to surrender* (verb) to give up, to admit defeat
All right! Don’t shoot! I surrender!
anxious* worried
I am very anxious about my exams.
allegation* statement against someone, accusation
The allegation was that I had stolen some jewellery.
warrant* licence, permit
The police have a warrant to search this house.
to incite* to stir up, to encourage (something bad)
The mob was incited to attack the accused men.
stable* unchanging, steady, the same
The sick man’s condition is stable.
to monitor* to check
The exam papers are carefully monitored for mistakes.

15
is entitled to* should have by law
You are entitled to inherit your parents’ property.
tightrope a high rope for an acrobat to walk along
strained* tense
The strained look on his face showed his fear and tension.
distress*(noun) fear and worry
The kitten stuck in the tree was in great distress.
classified classed as secret
clearance permission
confidential* secret (adj)
This is confidential information, so tell no one!
implication consequence, result
to blurt (out)* to say suddenly, without thinking
He suddenly blurted out all the information.
on compassionate grounds as a sign of kindness, mercy
shifty untrustworthy
to fiddle with to play with nervously, without thinking
flushed red
fatality* death
The earthquake caused many fatalities.
rubble stones, rocks, broken buildings
to flicker* to go on and off continuously
The flickering lights in the shop window looked pretty.
to dab* to dry something by touching it lightly and briefly
lopsided on one side only
to sag to droop, to hang down
the odds the chances
frank honest
footage film
allegedly it seems, according to the accusers
evidence* proof
I need evidence before I call anyone a thief.
corrupt* dishonest, cheating
Corrupt politicians ruin a country.
under cover secretly
the authorities people in charge, top officials
dashboard toy a nodding doll, displayed in a car for decoration
haunted* unhappy because of a memory which will not leave
I was haunted by sad memories of my father.
to do backups (coll) to make copies
in a fluster confused and worried
whereabouts place where something is, location
flimsy* light, not having much weight or importance
The flimsy cloth did not protect her from the cold.
The evidence was flimsy and could not be used in court.
16
shrug* (noun) a raising of the shoulders to show that one does not know
His shrug told me that he did not know.
to burrow to dig
to fume to be quietly very angry
a real flap (coll) anger, panic and confusion
to plough on to keep going, to continue despite difficulties
moral support (noun) help in facing an unpleasant task
vital* highly important
It is vital that you tell me the truth.
bugged* fitted with tiny electronic listening machines
This room is bugged, so don’t say anything.
to fret* to worry
Don’t fret! I will help you.
branded a traitor marked for life as a traitor
to clench one’s teeth* to grit one’s teeth in determination to do something difficult
I clenched my teeth and took out my sword.

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.
1. Why does Hannah speak sarcastically to her brother when he arrives in the waiting
room?
2. Who is Susan?
3. What do the authorities suspect about Leon Vane?
4. Read page 57 again and quote THREE similes.
5. What THREE things did Nathan’s father do which made him appear to be a traitor?
6. According to his explanation to Mr Edwards, what was Nathan’s father actually doing at
that time?
7. Where does Nathan think the evidence to prove his father’s innocence might be?
8. Do you think Mr Edwards is trustworthy? Explain your answer.

Chapter 7: Intruders

Vocabulary
creeped me out (coll) worried and frightened me
brooding deep thought
grit particles of stone
paranoid* constantly fearing that one is pursued by enemies
The paranoid man thought everyone was waiting to attack
him.
17
massive* huge
The massive iceberg sank the ship.
crinkle crease
instinct* natural reaction
It is our instinct to fight for life.
to cower* to hide and tremble in fear
We cowered in fear when the murderer entered.
to perish* to die
Those who perish at sea are rarely found.
to nuzzle to press one’s nose against something
stressed tense and worried
Tesco a nationwide chain of UK supermarkets
sheepish* shy and embarrassed
He looked sheepish when we asked where he had been.
impermeable* not allowing water to pass through
A raincoat must be made of impermeable cloth.
static static electricity which causes sparks
in robot mode moving automatically, like a robot
a hat-trick three goals in a row
subtle* (pronounced suttle) tactful, not obvious,
The colour on the walls was pale and subtle.
grate fireplace
newspaper coils newspaper twisted into shapes to burn in the fireplace
socket* a hollow place where something is inserted
The plug was in the socket.
to blab (coll) to spread the news to everyone
to stick up for to protect and defend
to crumple to crease up( before shedding tears)
to pinch (slang) to steal
to register to understand
flapping waving
to gesture* to make expressive hand movements
She gestured to us to sit down.
device gadget, small machine
rubbish(adj) (coll) really bad
to take it all in (coll) to understand it all
to fling to throw
doing my head in (coll) giving me a headache
theory idea
to bribe someone* to give someone money or gifts to do something
The judge was bribed to find the man innocent.
to pace to walk back and forth
on a roll had started and could not be stopped
on to them knew they were corrupt

18
to soar* to rise quickly, to increase rapidly
The eagle soared into the sky.
Food prices are soaring.
to frame someone to make it appear that someone is guilty
way too long (coll) far too long, much too long
in on it (coll) involved in it
watertight* complete and without any gaps
Her reasoning is watertight; we cannot argue with it.
precise* exact
Give me the precise time of the plane’s arrival, please.
twitchy nervous, jumpy
heavy (coll) seriously threatening
to pounce* to jump on one’s victim
The cat pounced on the bird.
to caw to make the sound of a crow
all hyper (coll) overly excited

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text

1. What had Nathan seen outside Mr Edwards’s office which had really worried him?
2. What is Lily’s next clue which Nathan must now follow?
3. What makes Nathan feel that someone may have been in the house while the family was
out?
4. Why does Nathan feel that he may be paranoid? (page 67)
5. What convinces Nathan that someone has certainly been in the house?
6. What do you think Mr Edwards’s ‘weak spots’ are, and how may pressure have been put
on him?
7. ‘At the moment they think Dad’s making stuff up.’ (page 81, last paragraph). What story
do the authorities think Nathan’s father is making up?
8. Why could Nathan’s father not give proof to the Special Services about the corrupt
people in his department?
9. Nathan wonders: ‘…had it been a mistake to tell Sasha and Josh?’ (page 87) What do you
think? If you were Nathan, would you tell them all the details about the case?
10. Why do you think Josh is always eating crisps? (Apart from the fact that he likes them!)

Chapter 8: Lily Kenley

Vocabulary
to shuffle* to walk slowly and with some difficulty
The old lady shuffled past us, using her walking stick.
19
gloom* the greyness, the dark atmosphere
A strange white shape emerged from the gloom.
spindly* slender and elongated, especially in a way that suggests weakness
His spindly legs showed that he had not eaten well for many months.
to lurch to move sideways suddenly
flurry: a small swirling mass of something, especially snow or leaves, moved
by sudden gusts of wind
flapping: fluttering; the sound produced by this motion
to scour: to search through thoroughly
to gnaw: (pronounced naw) to bite or nibble something persistently
grimace: a twisted expression on a person's face, expressing disgust, pain, or
dark amusement
to grimace* to make a face
He grimaced with pain when I gave him an injection.
to wriggle*: to twist and turn with quick movements
B&B bed and breakfast hotel
anagram jumbled up letters of a word
to clatter*: move with a rattling sound
He clattered into the garden on his old bike.
mascara eye make-up
jabbing: poking roughly or quickly, especially with something sharp or pointed
dread fear
stumpy: short and thick
flicking: looking through the parts of something by making quick movements
with the fingers
to call it a day to finish for the day, to stop work
Coventry an industrial city in England
muffled* (of sound) not loud because of being obstructed in some way; muted
Her voice sounded muffled because the phone line was bad.
commissioned ordered by the government
cryptography: the art of writing or solving codes
The Coventry Blitz the bombing of Coventry
Churchill the Prime Minister of Britain during WWII, war leader
Luftwaffe (pronounced looft vuffer) German air force
vague* (pronounced vaig) unclear, dim
I have only vague memories of my grandfather.

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.
20
1. What did Nathan see in the garden?
2. Why did Nathan and his friends write messages to each other as they sat in front of the
fire?
3. Why do you think Mum’s mascara had run?
4. During the Second World War, why was Lily living in the house which is now Nathan’s
home
5. What were 'Enigma Machines'?
6. What did Josh believe Lily had been working on?
7. From page 94, quote the simile which describes Nathan’s fear for his father.

Chapter 9 Bletchley Park

Interactive board/visual aids: Scenes from the film: ‘The Imitation Game’, the documentary
‘Bletchley Park’, pictures of Bletchley Park Mansion.

Background information: Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire (just outside London) is a

mansion and its grounds which were used by the government during WWII as the
headquarters for top-secret code breaking work. Many top mathematicians and physicists,
some of the best minds from Oxford and Cambridge were employed there during the war to
break the Enigma Code; this was Germany’s very complex secret code with which its army,
navy and air force communicated details of their intended attacks.

The Enigma Code was thought to be unbreakable, but Alan Turing, an English mathematician
designed a machine that successfully decoded the German messages. Turing’s machine was
known as a ‘bombe’ and was an early form of computer; the first computers used to be
called ‘Turing machines’.

Vocabulary
to swig to gulp down
to splatter to spill messily
to slosh to pour quickly and messily, to throw liquid
to dab to press lightly
agitated* troubled, nervous
I felt agitated waiting for my exam result.
to shove* to push
Don’t shove people out of the way! Say ‘Excuse me.’
to pace* to walk up and down
She paced the room, wondering what to do.
shaking that badly shaking so badly
slurp gulp
to clench to grip tightly, to close tightly
to board to stay as a paying guest
21
to gather* to understand, to assume
You are new here, I gather?
my hands were that slippery my hands were so slippery
formal* official
It will be a formal dinner so please dress smartly.
intimidation tactics methods of scaring people, ways to threaten
a wobble a slight shake
deserted* empty
The street was silent and deserted at midnight.
to perch to sit on something high or narrow
to fling* to throw (fling, flung, flung)
He flung the sword into the lake.
to fill someone in on something to give someone details
to judder to shake violently
gritted spread with grit to prevent skidding on the ice or snow
spindly thin, skinny
huddled-up built very closely together
to swirl to move quickly in small circles
drizzle fine, light rain
to skitter to move quickly and lightly
tarmac black material used for making roads
to jab to poke
criss-crossing diamond shapes wire placed over the news poster to keep it in place
to smother* to suffocate, to prevent breathing
He smothered us with too much affection.
to spiral to move round and round like a screw
trodden down packed tightly, compressed
to crane over to stretch one’s neck
clusters groups
done up decorated, kept in good order
D Day Deliverance Day (June 6th 1944 when the Allied forces set out to
liberate Europe from German occupation)
to flake to fall off in small pieces
shed skin skin which has dropped away from the body
grubby* dirty
Don’t put that grubby cloth on the table!
boarded up closed up with boards of wood
the edge the sharp sound
random* unplanned, disorganised
I made my choice in a random way, without any real thought.
to jostle* to push through a crowd
I was jostled out of the way by a large crowd.
anteroom a room in an official building where people wait to be dealt with
scaffolding temporary high platforms to allow work to be carried out
gramophone old-fashioned record player
22
vacuumed cleaned with a vacuum cleaner
gruff deep, unfriendly
Good one! Quite right! Well said!
The Third Reich Germany under Hitler and the Nazis
coat of arms design on a shield, unique to an individual or a family.
to chuckle* to laugh in a friendly way
The baby chuckled when she saw me.
plaque a flat piece of metal or stone
phoenix a bird from ancient myth which burns but is then re-born out of its
own ashes
fella (coll) fellow
sidetracked away from one’s original purpose
spouting talking loudly
to put one’s foot in it to speak out of turn and give away a secret
tame mild, insignificant, unimportant
on a roll (coll) wanting to continue, to keep going, unwilling to stop
to let on to give away the secret
to cackle to make a sound like a goose
down tools stop work, leave one’s job
hearsay rumour
for starters to begin with
a dead duck a useless thing
to scowl* to frown in annoyance
Don’t scowl at me when I scold you!
earnest sincere, serious
infamous* having a bad reputation, famous for something bad
That man is infamous for lies and corruption.
blown (coll) exposed, given away the secret
cluttered over-full of items
blurry unclear
stunned* amazed, very surprised
We were stunned when we heard the news.
breach break
din loud noise
rowdy* noisy and badly behaved
What rowdy football fans!
controversial* causing great discussion and many arguments
‘Mercy killing’ is a controversial subject.
to flinch* to move slightly in pain, fear or surprise
I flinched when he shouted in my face.
speckled dotted
sequin small, shiny disk sewn on clothes for decoration
archives (pronounced arkives)a collection of historical documents or records
deadline time when work must be completed and submitted
custard creams type of biscuits
23
to chomp to chew
to wrench* to pull roughly
He wrenched the handle off the door.
to rifle to search and rob
to fidget* to keep moving one’s fingers or hands out of nervousness
Please sit still and don’t fidget!
to coo to speak comfortingly
chunky thick and heavy
to beam* to smile widely
He beamed with joy when he received the prize.
hassled flustered, bothered
huffy in a mood
resuscitate* to bring back to life, make breathe again
We managed to resuscitate the man who nearly drowned.
to jeer* to laugh unpleasantly and mockingly
They jeered at me when I wore old fashioned clothes.

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. ‘I bolted awake.’ What effect is created by the word ‘bolted’ in the first sentence?
2. What makes Nathan let out a yell?
3. Why do you think Nathan’s mother was being strangely quiet?
4. Whom did Nathan receive a text from?
5. Why was it unlikely to be a genuine text?
6. Why did Nathan turn the radio on loudly when asking his mother if he could go to
Bletchley Park?
7. Why does Nathan feel sad for Lily?
8. How had Auntie Hilda known Lily?
9. Identify a simile used on page 104. Explain what comparison is being made and why.
10. Read pages 104 to 107 and identify all those images that are used to create a gloomy
atmosphere.
11. After encountering the boy from his year at school, why did Nathan feel as if he was
being watched?
12. Why are the three friends going to Bletchley Park?
13. Why did they head straight for Hut 6?
14. In what condition was Hut 6?
15. Who was Alan Turing and what did he design?
16. Give three adjectives to describe Percy’s behaviour towards the three friends.
17. Explain fully the secret work that was going on at Bletchley during the war.
18. Explain the meaning of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s description of the people who
worked at Bletchley Park during the war. (page 115)
19. Why had Lily been regarded as a traitor? What security breach had she committed?
24
20. What was the Coventry Blitz?
21. Who is Rose and how does she help the three friends?
22. How did Lily die?
23. What effect does this information have on Nathan and why?

Chapter 10: Lion Eagle

Vocabulary
to huddle* to gather closely together, usually because of cold or fear
We huddled together to keep warm.
impatient* wanting to do something immediately
Wait your turn and don’t be impatient.
murk darkness caused by smoke, fog, etc
speckle a small coloured mark or spot on a background of a different colour
to squint* to look at something with eyes partly shut
I squinted at the page but couldn’t read the tiny print.
numb unable to feel, think or react in the normal way
to fiddle* to keep touching or moving something with one’s hands
to pinch (coll) to steal
to drone* to make a continuous low noise
The teacher droned on and on, boring us all to death.
to brace oneself* to prepare oneself for something difficult or unpleasant to happen
I braced myself to hear the bad news.
to niggle* to irritate or annoy somebody slightly
It always niggles me when you say silly things.
to swig to take a quick drink of something
to twirl to make something turn quickly and lightly round and round
to fish to search for something, using one’s hands
delirious* in an excited state and not able to think or speak clearly
I was delirious with joy when I passed the exams.
to smear* to make something dirty or greasy
He smeared his dirty fingers on the clean table cloth.
to tug to pull something hard, often several times
grim* looking or sounding very serious
The news was grim: ten people had died.
the penny dropped they finally understood
to chuckle to laugh quietly
to spring* to move quickly
She sprang into action when she saw the danger.

25
griffin The name of the chapter, Lion Eagle, refers to the griffin. A griffin is a
mythical creature with the body, tail and hind legs of a lion and the
head and wings of an eagle. Since the lion is deemed to be the king of
the animals and the eagle to be the king of the birds, the griffin was
considered especially powerful in ancient folklore and is now used in
emblems and statues.
to cram* to push or force something into a small space
Many things were crammed into the tiny room.

Comprehension questions Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in
the SAME tense. Do not mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless
asked to quote from the text.

1. Why have the friends come to the cafe?

2. How did Nathan feel about his dad’s transfer? Explain in your own words.
3. Why did Sasha become ‘bossy and flustered’ when Josh asked her about the file?
4. What was Nathan expecting to see on the telly?
5. What made Nathan feel ashamed of himself?
6 Why did Nathan’s friends get scared when he showed them the message?
7. What made Nathan get excited when he saw the menu?
8. From your reading of the chapter, state one thing you can infer about Josh’s personality.

Chapter 11 The Old Griffins

Interactive board/ visual aids Picture of a griffin

Vocabulary
groove a long narrow cut
cleft gap, division
slack* loose, limp
We loosened the rope so that it became slack.
to scuttle to run hurriedly
to swivel to turn round on the spot
corrugated shaped into a series of parallel ridges to give rigidity and
strength
hexagonal chicken wire very thin wire shaped into hexagonal (six sided) links
dingy* (pronounced dinge-y) dark, miserable
I hate this dingy part of town.
plank* long, thin, flat piece of wood, used for flooring
The pirates made him walk the plank and fall into the sea.
to budge* to move
I pushed hard but it did not budge.
to crouch to bend down low
26
to topple to lose balance and begin to fall
to stoop to bend forward
severe strict, serious, stern
to campaign* to protest in an organised manner to stop something
happening
We are campaigning to stop the death penalty in this country.
to distract someone* to take someone’s attention off of something
Do not distract me when I am driving.
to wince to show slight pain or embarrassment
missus Mrs (coll) wife
pitted marked with pits or craters
scraggy rough
to gouge to scrape out
hacked* intercepted, spied upon
My phone and bank account have been hacked.
that’s the ticket that’s the right way, that’s good
to gabble to speak unclearly and too fast
to frame* to blame wrongly, to place guilt upon
The condemned man shouted, “I didn’t do it. I’ve been
framed.”
serviette napkin
mangled* squashed, flattened, out of shape
After the accident, they found a mangled bicycle.
chocolate éclair a type of pastry
Beethoven (pronounced Bate- hoe-ven) very famous 18-19th century German
composer
fragment* broken/torn piece
A fragment of the cloth was caught on the spiky bush.

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. Why did Nathan run his fingers over the griffin by the mansion door?
2. What did Josh mean by the words: “they don’t look very nineteen forties”?
3. How did the three friends learn where the old griffins had been placed?
4. How did they get into the storeroom?
5. Explain how the new and old griffins were different.
6. Why was Bletchley closing early that day?
7. What blunder did Nathan make when he found the clue on the old griffin?
8. What did Percy leave behind?
9. What did the friends see in the car park?
10. How would you describe Josh’s eating habits?
27
Chapter 12 Moonlight Sonata

Interactive board/ visual aids: Coventry destroyed after German attack in WWII, barrage
balloons
Make sure students hear the music: Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Vocabulary
pitch black* thickly black, like tar
It was a pitch black night.
it dawned on me I realised
coils twists, spirals
newspaper clipping an article cut from the newspaper
cathedral* large and important church, usually hundreds of years
old. (Coventry Cathedral was completely destroyed by
German bombing in WWII)
barrage balloon a huge bullet-shaped balloon attached to the ground
with metal cables, helping to form a barrier against air
attack in both World Wars. Enemy aircraft were
damaged by the cables.
to have a hunch* to have an idea, a feeling
I have a hunch that this horse will win.
cutlery* knives, forks and spoons
Put that knife in the cutlery drawer.
to plead with* to beg
They pleaded with him for mercy.
give us a lead lead us to the answer, give us an important clue
massive huge, enormous
to dread* to fear that something will happen
I dread the exams.
buckled having creases or raised areas, not smooth
to sift through to sort through, to look through
a full English a full English breakfast (eggs, bacon, tomatoes,
mushrooms, baked beans, sausages, fried bread)
my skin crawled I felt disgusted
her voice catching her voice about to break; she was almost crying
a hanky a handkerchief
brunch breakfast-lunch
seconds second helpings, more food
feeble* weak
The feeble old man fell down.
to gape* to stare with open mouth
Don’t gape at me when I tell you that you have won!
to sort it (coll) to organise it
a blunder a stupid mistake

28
to stammer* to speak with breaks and pauses
“G-give it back,” she stammered.
BP British Petroleum
to jar to jolt, to cause sudden discomfort
to churn to turn over and over

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.
1. How realistically has the writer portrayed Nathan’s dream? Are dreams actually like this?
2. What is the main emotion expressed in Nathan’s dream?
3. What reminds Nathan that today is his birthday?
4. Why is Nathan annoyed with himself?
5. What happened to Coventry Cathedral in 1940 during operation Moonlight Sonata?
6. In which street in Coventry did Lily’s father live?
7. What sad fact did Nathan find out from Google?
8. What was special about the gift which Hannah gave her brother?
9. How did Nathan feel when he imagined the people listening to the conversations in his
home?
10. Why do you think Nathan was ‘glad to have something to rip apart and screw up’ when
he opened his birthday present?
11. Look at the end of page 151. ‘I felt a smile explode across my face.’ Why does the
writer use the word ‘explode’?
12. What are the two meanings of BP?

Chapter 13 Making a Wish

Vocabulary
sloppy (coll) sentimental, silly
CCTV close circuit television
footage film
bland* neutral, colourless, without features
This food is bland and tasteless.
grim serious, humourless
to scrunch up (coll) to become wrinkled and full of worry
the highest bidder the person offering most money
as it is already, as the situation stands at the moment
an ember part of the dying fire

29
frustration* irritation, agitation with things not moving quickly
enough
I felt terrible frustration when I could not reach my
father to tell him the important news.
urgent* needing immediate attention/action
You must treat this matter as urgent! People are dying!
the ritual* the ceremony, the proper procedure
The priest raised his hands and bowed his head to
complete the ritual.
a pitch a level, a tone
the Holy Grail the cup from which Jesus Christ drank ( many people
searched for this very special cup for many years)
HM Prison Her Majesty’s prison, (a British prison)
inmate* prisoner
The inmates complained that the prison food was
horrible.
hysterical* madly upset
When I saw the injured child, I screamed and became
hysterical.
reassuring* comforting, calming, giving assurance
It was reassuring to have my mother by my side.
a formality something which is always done but is not necessarily
meaningful
weary* (pronounced wee-ary) very tired
She was weary after all the cooking and cleaning.
to bung (coll )to place something carelessly, to stuff something
in
four-by-four large, expensive car
revved moved off noisily, revving its engine
creepy-crawlies insects
to hurl* to throw
They hurled their spears at the enemy.
bark covering of the trunk of a tree
the top priority the first and most important thing to do
to seep to soak slowly
to trample to tread on
a decoy a false trail, something to mislead others
to nag to repeat a command constantly

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

30
1. Which five clues does Nathan have that his father was speaking to him in code on the
telephone?
2. What might have caused Dad to betray his country, according to Hannah?
3. Look at page 156 and the paragraph beginning: ‘An ember glowed…’ What atmosphere is
created by the writer’s choice of words in this section?
4. Why do you think Nathan’s mother has made so much food?
5. What ‘ritual’ did Nathan perform?
6. What upsetting thing did Hannah find in her mother’s handbag?
7. Hannah makes a sarcastic remark about the solicitor. What does she actually say?
8. Give one word to sum up Hannah’s response when she hears about the film of her father
in a car park.
9. Re-read the last paragraph of page 161. Give three adjectives to describe Nathan’s
behaviour towards his mother.
10. In what ways is Nathan like the messenger bird? (see page 163)
11. What is meaningful about Dad’s message ‘Kiss, kiss, kiss’?
12. What exciting thing was in the photo on page 30 of the Bletchley Park book?

Chapter 14 Friends page 168

Vocabulary
to yelp to cry out in a high-pitched tone
clattery making a metallic noise
bemused confused, dazed
tactic method
handy* useful, convenient
A pocket knife is always handy.
clacky (coll) making a sound as the wheels go round

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. Why does Sasha give Nathan a bottle of perfume?

2. Who do you think Mrs Atkinson must be? Why is she at Nathan’s house?

31
Chapter 15 Action This Day page 172
The title of this chapter is a quote from Winston Churchill. The Bletchley Park code-breakers
needed far more funding to create the machinery
required to break the Enigma Code. They wrote to the
Prime Minister and he ordered ‘Action this day!’ to give
them everything they needed.
Vocabulary
objective* aim, goal, intention
What was your objective in running away?
a right state (coll) a terrible state
to breeze into a room to enter with energy and cheerfulness
to fume* to be quietly very angry
When he told me I was not selected for the post,
I was fuming but said nothing.
virtually almost, just about
to sneak off to go secretly
to do a runner (coll) to run away
emergency measures special methods
come to think of it actually, if one considers carefully
like a shot* immediately, without hesitation
I would go to New York like a shot if I could.
to rummage* to search roughly through something
He rummaged through the drawer to find his
keys.
docile* tame, obedient
The dog was quite docile, not dangerous at all.
reluctant* unwilling
He was reluctant to tell me his name but I
forced him to.
to hack someone off (coll) to annoy someone
to puke (coll) to vomit
to fret to worry
dodgy (coll) risky, dangerous
rations portions of food
splinter* pointed, sharp, narrow piece of wood
I had a splinter in my hand after touching that
old fence.
spontaneous combustion bursting into flames for no reason

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.
32
1. How would you describe Mrs Atkinson’s attitude towards Nathan and his friends?
2. How was Nathan feeling, do you think, as he sat through the film with Mrs Atkinson?
3. Why do you think Nathan ‘must be hearing things’ when classical music comes from
Hannah’s bedroom?
4. How was Nathan feeling towards Percy, do you think, as he considered using Percy’s
keys?
5. What was Mrs Atkinson’s real name?
6. What did Nathan remove from her bag and why?
7. How do you think Mrs Atkinson knows about the big birthday breakfast?
8. Why is Hannah behaving so obediently towards Mrs Atkinson?
9. Why does Nathan decide not to involve Sasha and Josh any more in his activities?
10. Why does Nathan refer to his sister as a ‘creep’?
11. Give three adjectives to describe friends like Sasha and Josh.
12. What does Nathan intend to do this night?

Chapter 16 Miles to Go Before I Sleep page 186

‘Miles to go before I sleep’ is a line from a poem by Robert Frost, a poet mentioned in
Chapter 2. The last lines are: ‘But I have promises to
keep, / And miles to go before I sleep.’

Vocabulary
to vibrate* to move or shake slightly
My cell phone vibrated in my pocket.
to lug to pull with difficulty
to strain* to try very hard to do something, to use all
one’s strength
The weight lifter strained to lift the car.
an hour tops (coll) maximum one hour
a spurt of speed a sudden increase in speed
to veer to turn suddenly and sharply
thicket small wood
giddy* dizzy, heady
He felt giddy with delight.
niggling* irritating, troubling
I had a niggling doubt that he would not arrive.
luminous shining brightly
to throb* to pulsate with pain
My head was throbbing with pain.
to flex to bend, to stretch

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Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. Look at the first paragraph, page 186. What effect is created by the last three sentences
in the paragraph?
2. How was Nathan hoping to fool Mrs Atkinson?
3. Who was waiting outside for Nathan?
4. Why did Nathan send a text to Sasha?
5. Explain how Nathan came off his bike.
6. What made Nathan ring ‘Lily’s’ number?
7. What did the response tell him?
8. Sum up why Nathan wants to break into Bletchley Park in the middle of the night.
9. Why did Nathan slam the gate locked as soon as he, Sasha and Josh were inside?

Chapter 17 A Gilded Ceiling page 194

Vocabulary
gilded covered with a layer of gold
panting breathing in short bursts
to peck to bite, to strike with a beak or pointed instrument
to pound* to thud, to beat heavily
The policeman pounded on the door.
to get one’s bearings to work out directions and understand where things
are
booth cabin, kiosk
to loom to rise threateningly
thick (coll) stupid
hideous* horrible
The hideous face frightened the children.
to wheeze to breathe with difficulty
mummified preserved
turps (coll) turpentine (liquid for cleaning paint brushes)
pillar column
crick pain
stable* steady, firm
He is ill but his condition is stable
strut an iron beam
dismantling taking apart
to gibber to speak unclearly, to mutter nonsensically
the edge the sharpness
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a wild goose chase a meaningless search, a useless exercise
to slump to fall loosely

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.
1. Why did Nathan try ringing ‘Lily’s’ number again?
2. Why did Nathan think he had been ‘thick’?
3. Why does Josh insist that Nathan keep his gloves on?
4. Why did Nathan’s insides churn? (page 198)
5. Why was the latch probably unhooked?
6. How was Nathan able to overcome his fear of heights?

Chapter 18 Star Gazing page202

Teachers should guide children to look very closely at the illustration on page 203. There are
very faint stars in the four corners of the wooden
panel.
Vocabulary
frenzy* state of mad panic
I was in a frenzy, trying to find my missing brother.
utter* complete
This is utter foolishness!

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. How did the three friends manage to remove the star panel?
2. Why did they have to act quickly?

Chapter 19 The Secret Room page 206

Vocabulary
chink a slit, a narrow opening
dense* thick
It was a dense forest, so we couldn’t see very far.
35
sealed closed, allowing nothing in or out
pins and needles unpleasant tingling feeling
soundproof allowing no sound to pass through
let us off forgive us, give us no punishment
squishy soft
hypnotic* putting someone into a trance
The music was gentle and hypnotic.
biroed written with a ball-point pen (a biro)
snazzy stylish, latest fashion
peppered dotted
got at threatened
to pummel to make light punches
to dredge to go carefully through, searching
alert* wide awake, paying full attention
One must always be alert when driving.
orthodox* acceptable, normal, proper
The bowler’s unorthodox style made him very
successful in matches.
to compromise to risk
admissible permitted
dim* not bright
The lights were dim so we couldn’t see clearly.
to twitch to make a sudden unexpected movement
vital* very important
It is vital that you take these medicines.
to sit tight to remain in one place, to stay still
claustrophobic* afraid of closed-in spaces
I cannot enter a lift because I am claustrophobic.
to freak out (coll) to go mad
agitated upset, worried, over-anxious
a sliver a thin slice
he’s losing it he’s going mad
to ping to make a high metallic sound
like there was no tomorrow as if it didn’t matter
a dead duck a useless thing
Lily had got to me Lily had made an impression on me, I was involved with
her story
a let-down a disappointment
gobbledegook (pronounced gobble-dee- gook) nonsense
a process of elimination finding an answer by crossing out the wrong answers
and keeping what remains
cryptic* hidden, secret
The cryptic clues were hard to understand

36
Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. On pages 206 and 207, the writer compares the secret room to three things. Quote the
similes used.
2. What three things did the friends find in the box in the secret room?
3. What had Nathan’s father wanted Nathan to do with the evidence once he found it?
4. Why did Nathan not do what his father had wanted?
5. What did he do instead?
6. Do you think this was a wise thing for Nathan to have done?
7. Why did the friends not leave the secret room as soon as they found the evidence?
8. Why were Sasha and Nathan worried about Josh?
9. What did they do to take his mind off their situation?
10. Why did the friends pull out the padding around the room?

Chapter 20 Cracking the Enigma Code page224

Vocabulary
distorted out of shape
to blurt to speak out without thinking

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. What letters did Nathan use to de-code Lily’s messages?

2. Who discovers the friends’ hiding place?
3. Do you think she is trustworthy? Explain your answer.

Chapter 21 Traitor page 227

Vocabulary
brainwave* brilliant idea
What a brainwave! Let’s go there now!
blackmailed threatened with terrible consequences
hoarse* dry, rough
My voice is hoarse after shouting so much.
37
to cooperate (pronounced co-operate) to work alongside, to help
to guarantee* to assure
I guarantee that you will not regret this decision.
to quiver to move slightly, to tremble
flammable* quick to catch fire
Petrol is highly flammable.
to shunt to move in a jerky manner
to trespass* to go where one is not allowed
You are trespassing on private property!
arson the crime of setting something on fire
stunt trick, performance meant to impress
manoeuvres (pronounced man oovers) movements, exercises
to douse* (pronounced to rhyme with house) to soak
She doused herself in perfume.
sludge slimy mixture
to align to line up in the correct position
the nozzle the opening out of which liquid is sprayed
to cotton on (coll) to understand, to get the meaning
intact* in one piece, undamaged
The seal on the bottle was intact; it had not been
opened.
to take the bait to believe the story
smouldering burning, glowing
spiky sharp
to reel to turn
to squirm to wriggle, to twist
wreckage the damage
stench* horrible smell
A terrible stench came from the filthy clothes.
rancid stale
to shift to move

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. Where has Rose placed herself and why?

2. What does she want?
3. How did Rose know where to find Nathan and his friends?
4. What does Rose threaten the children with at first?
5. How does Rose plan to destroy the evidence?
6. What gives Nathan the strength to think of something to use against Rose?
7. What does he use as a weapon against her?
38
8. What does his ‘weapon’ cause Rose to do?
9. What happens to Rose?
10. Why does Nathan go back into the secret room?
11. Who puts out the fire?
12. Who is with him?

Chapter 22 Nothing but the Truth page 239

Vocabulary
trust her to… (coll) how typical of her to…
eavesdropping* secretly listening in on other people’s conversations
Eavesdropping is wrong but can be very interesting!
put it that way (coll) let me express it in that manner
abandoned* empty
The abandoned house scared the children.
to set someone up (coll) to frame someone, to make him/her appear
guilty
contented* happy, satisfied
I felt calm and contented, sitting on the beach.
sentence* legal punishment, time in jail
The judge passed a sentence of ten years
imprisonment.
whirling twisting and turning
course (coll) of course
miscarriage of justice injustice, the justice system going wrong
nicked (coll) stolen
to compromise to put at risk
whim a passing fancy, a sudden mood
granted given
to etch to draw by scratching into a surface

Comprehension questions
Look at the TENSE of the question and make sure you answer in the SAME tense. Do not
mirror the question in your answer. Use your OWN words, unless asked to quote from the
text.

1. How much time has now passed since the incident at Bletchley Park?
2. What is Nathan reading?
3. Who is the ‘Innocent Man’?
4. Why had Hannah behaved so obediently and pleasantly to Mrs Atkinson on the night of
the Bletchley Park incident?
39
5. How had Hannah known that Nathan was going to go to Bletchley Park that night?
6. What had Gavin and Hannah taken with them in the car to help them?
7. What did Hannah do with Dad’s evidence?
8. What happened to Rose?
9. Why had Josh had to fan Percy with a leaflet?
10. Why had Dad not told Nathan about Lily?
11. Why had Lily accepted her fate as a traitor and not told her full story?
12. What had Lily hoped would happen one day?
13. Who was the ‘Hut 6 Worker’ who was pardoned by the queen?
14. How does Nathan pay personal tribute to Lily?

WRITTEN WORK AND SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Write a book review of The Messenger Bird for next year’s Class 7 in your school. Sum up
the story briefly, without spoiling the suspense of the novel.
Discuss the main characters and what you thought of them.
State what you found interesting/exciting about the story.
Discuss the way it is written.
State why next year’s Class 7 should or should not read this book.

Love and friendship play a very important role in this novel.

Discuss how the writer shows the importance of love in the story.
Nathan’s love for his father and his father’s love for him.
Nathan’s love for his mother and her love for him.
His father’s love for Auntie Hilda and her love for him.
Lily’s love for her father.
Lack of love in Josh’s life.
Hannah’s love for her family.
Percy’s love of the history of Bletchley Park
Mr Edwards’s love for his children

Discuss the importance of friendship and loyalty in the novel.

Nathan, Josh and Sasha
Lily’s friends
Mr Edwards