Tasting the Sky Reading Comprehension Questions
by Ibtisam Barakat
Book Summary
Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood is a memoir by Ibtisam Barakat, chronicling her experiences growing up in Palestine during and after the 1967 Six-Day War. The book begins with Ibtisam as a young child, forced to flee her home with her family, becoming refugees. It vividly describes the challenges of displacement, living in refugee camps, and the longing for home and normalcy. A central theme is Ibtisam's deep love for words, stories, and learning to read and write, which become her refuge, a source of power, and a way to understand and express her world amidst chaos. The narrative explores themes of resilience, imagination, family bonds, and the search for identity and voice in difficult circumstances. It highlights how small moments of beauty and connection, like tasting rainwater, can offer hope.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Tasting the Sky.
1.What did Ibtisam's family have to do at the beginning of the story?
2.Where did Ibtisam and her family live after leaving their home?
3.What did Ibtisam love to do that made her feel strong and connected?
4.Why do you think Ibtisam felt scared and confused when her family had to leave their home quickly?
5.How did using her imagination help Ibtisam when life was hard in the tent camp?
6.What can you infer about why tasting the sky (rainwater) was a special memory for Ibtisam?
7.What is one important lesson Ibtisam learns about words and stories?
8.What is the main message the author wants readers to understand about finding hope in difficult times?
9.How can you tell that learning to read and write was very important for Ibtisam's feelings?
10.What does the word 'precious' mean when the story says Ibtisam felt her books and stories were 'precious' treasures?
11.In the story, when Ibtisam's belongings were 'scattered' as they packed quickly, what does 'scattered' mean?
12.What does the word 'comfort' mean when Ibtisam found 'comfort' in her mother's hugs when she felt sad?
13.If you had to leave your home quickly like Ibtisam, what one special thing would you try to take with you and why?
14.How do you think stories and books can help people when they are feeling sad or lonely, like Ibtisam sometimes felt?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Tasting the Sky to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Tasting the Sky with children.
What was your favorite part of Tasting the Sky? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Tasting the Sky, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Tasting the Sky make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Tasting the Sky to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Ibtisam Barakat wanted young readers to learn from this story?
Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Tasting the Sky?
Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat is recommended for grades 2-4 readers with an AR level of 3.5. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Tasting the Sky?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Tasting the Sky, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Tasting the Sky for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
Want your child to try the full quiz?
Just download the free app.
Scan a book cover
any book covers
Answer fun questions
with instant feedback
Watch reading grow
scores and streaks
ReadBuddy.ai
