The Last Cuentista Reading Comprehension Questions
by Donna Barba Higuera
Book Summary
The Last Cuentista tells the story of Petra Peña, a young girl chosen to travel to a new planet after Earth is destroyed. She is put into stasis for hundreds of years. When she wakes up, she finds that a group called the Collective has taken over, erasing all memories of Earth and its stories. Petra, who remembers her grandmother's traditional Mexican stories (cuentos), becomes the last storyteller, using her tales to help the other children remember their past and inspire hope for the future.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about The Last Cuentista.
1.What was Petra's grandmother called?
2.What was the name of the new planet where Petra was traveling?
3.What did the Collective do to the other children when they woke up?
4.Why do you think Petra's Lita made sure Petra remembered all the stories?
5.Why did the Collective want to stop Petra from telling stories?
6.How do you think the other children felt when Petra started telling them stories?
7.What is one important lesson the story teaches about remembering the past?
8.What is the main idea the book wants us to understand about stories?
9.How can you tell that Petra was a brave character?
10.What does the word 'stasis' mean in the story?
11.What is a 'cuentista' as used in the book?
12.In the story, what does the 'Collective' refer to?
13.If you were Petra, what kind of story would you tell first to the other children to help them remember?
14.Why do you think it's important for people to remember their family's history and traditions?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from The Last Cuentista to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading The Last Cuentista with children.
What was your favorite part of The Last Cuentista? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from The Last Cuentista, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did The Last Cuentista make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend The Last Cuentista to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Donna Barba Higuera wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is The Last Cuentista?
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of 5.0. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for The Last Cuentista?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for The Last Cuentista, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use The Last Cuentista 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.
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