This Is the Story of a Girl Growing up As a Land Owner on a Cattle Ranch During the Rancho

Carlota

This is the story of a girl growing up as a land owner on a cattle ranch during the rancho period in California. She takes on responsibilities of the ranch that men usually do. She becomes empathetic during the Mexican American War.

by Scott O’Dell

Focus Questions: The following questions are meant to be read prior to reading each chapter to help the students focus and build comprehension related to central ideas of the text. After reading, students discuss the focus questions for the chapter.

Chapter 1

 Who fought in the war?

 Where are the Zabarans from and how do they feel about the war?

 Who is Rosario and what is he like? How do other treat him?

 How does Carlota ride a horse? How do others react and think?

Chapter 2

 What does Carlota’s grandmother wish for and why?

 Why do they want the rain to continue?

 What does Carlota love most?

Chapter 3

 What type of pet does Carlota’s father have?

 What types of things does Carlota see when she inspects the house and land?

Chapter 4

 Why do Carlota and her father keep blue beach a secret?

Chapter 5

 What dangers does Carlota risk when she dives for the treasure?

 What happens to Carlota on one of her dives?

Chapter 6  What does Carlota think about her sister’s future husband? How do you know this?

 How does Carlota dress and why?

Chapter 7

 How does the race go for Carlota?

Chapter 8

 How does Carlota act strong even during a setback?

 How does the race end?

Chapter 9

 Who does Carlota meet at the dance?

 What type of dance does she perform?

Chapter 10

 What news does the vaquero bring?

Chapter 11

 Why is Carlota’s dad so proud of her?

Chapter 12

 What does Don Manuel think of Carlota?

Chapter 13

 What do their neighbors think they should do?

 What does Don Jose think?

 What does Carlota think about fighting with the gringos?

Chapter 14

 What type of flag are the gringos carrying?

 What does Don Jose want Carlota to do?

Chapter 15

 How does Carlota look when she is with the group of 12 rancheros?  What does Carlota make for each ranchero family?

Chapter 16

 What news do the Indians bring?

 What do they lasso and have dinner? How is it prepared and cooked?

 What does the leader ask Carlota to do?

Chapter 17

 How do the lancers fight the gringos?

 Where is San Pasqual and what happened there?

Chapter 18

 What happens while Carlota waits with the horses?

 What happens to Carlota’s father?

 Who won the battle of San Pasqual?

 What does Carlota want to do with the wounded gringo?

Chapter 19

 What does the surgeon say about Carlota’s Dad and the gringo?

 What does Carlota learn from the gringo?

Chapter 20

 Who is El Lobo?

Chapter 21

 What does the soldier want?

 How does Carlota’s dad react when he sees the gringo at his home?

Chapter 22

 How does Carlota react to the wounded gringo?

Chapter 23

 Who is in charge of the ranch? How do the others react?  Why are the horses and cattle dying?

 What does Carlota do at the store in San Diego?

Chapter 24

 What does the store keeper do?

 Where does Carlota plan to go?

 What happens when she is under water?

 Why is the store owner disappointed?

Chapter 25

 How many cattle survived the drought?

 What were so many people searching for?

 Why does Carlota exchange horses with the doctor?

Chapter 26

 What does the grandma think about Carlota running the ranch?

 What does Carlota do and why?