# Reading Between the Lines: A Grade 9 Crossword

Strong readers do more than decode words on a page. They notice what a text says outright and what it only hints at, they weigh whether a narrator can be trusted, and they explain how a writer's choices shape meaning. This puzzle reviews the vocabulary Grade 9 readers use to talk about texts: identifying explicit and implicit ideas ([Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15575), [Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15575)), analyzing character choices and point of view ([Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15581)), noticing techniques such as symbolism and perspective ([Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15582)), and judging the credibility of a narrator ([Outcome](https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15585)). Fill in the grid to practice using this vocabulary the way a literary critic would.

## How to play

Read each clue and write your answer in the matching numbered spaces on the grid. Across answers fill in from left to right; down answers fill in from top to bottom. Every answer connects to a term you use when analyzing fiction, non-fiction or media texts in class. Check crossing letters if you get stuck: a shared square means two answers agree on that letter. Work through the clues you know first, then use those letters to figure out the harder ones.

## Puzzle grid

| ■ | ■ | 1 |   |   |   |   | 2 |   |   | ■ | ■ | 3 |
|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | 4 | ■ | ■ |   |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ |   |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ |   |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | 5 | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ |   |
| ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ |   |
| ■ | ■ | 6 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ |   | ■ | ■ |   |
| ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| 7 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | 8 |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ |   | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |

## Clues

### Across

1. Clearly stated or shown without any doubt or ambiguity (8)
6. The viewpoint or angle from which a story or text is told (11)
7. The use of objects or actions to represent deeper meanings or ideas (9)
8. Suggested or understood without being directly stated (8)

### Down

2. A person or creature portrayed in a story or text (9)
3. To explain the meaning of something you have read or observed (9)
4. The person or voice that tells the story (8)
5. The quality of being believable or trustworthy (11)

## Answer key

- **1 across**: EXPLICIT
- **2 down**: CHARACTER
- **3 down**: INTERPRET
- **4 down**: NARRATOR
- **5 down**: CREDIBILITY
- **6 across**: PERSPECTIVE
- **7 across**: SYMBOLISM
- **8 across**: IMPLICIT

| ■ | ■ | E | X | P | L | I | C | I | T | ■ | ■ | I |
|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | H | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | N |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | A | ■ | N | ■ | ■ | T |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | R | ■ | A | ■ | ■ | E |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | A | ■ | R | ■ | ■ | R |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | C | ■ | ■ | ■ | C | ■ | R | ■ | ■ | P |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | R | ■ | ■ | ■ | T | ■ | A | ■ | ■ | R |
| ■ | ■ | P | E | R | S | P | E | C | T | I | V | E |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | D | ■ | ■ | ■ | R | ■ | O | ■ | ■ | T |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | I | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | R | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| S | Y | M | B | O | L | I | S | M | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | I | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | L | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | I | M | P | L | I | C | I | T | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | T | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| ■ | ■ | ■ | Y | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |

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*AILI game · language en · model claude-sonnet-5 · generated 2026-09-17 · id 7075636a-8dad-4e51-a75b-dc1623ace195*

### Sources

- node:n1: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 2 › 2.1 Use Strategies and Cues (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15574)
- node:n2: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 2 › 2.1 Use Strategies and Cues (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15575)
- node:n3: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 2 › 2.2 Respond to Texts (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15581)
- node:n4: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 2 › 2.2 Respond to Texts (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15582)
- node:n5: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 2 › 2.1 Use Strategies and Cues (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15575)
- node:n6: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 1 › 1.2 Clarify and Extend (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15569)
- node:n7: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 2 › 2.3 Understand Forms, Elements and Techniques (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15585)
- node:n8: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 2 › 2.1 Use Strategies and Cues (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15574)
- node:n9: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 2 › 2.3 Understand Forms, Elements and Techniques (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15586)
- node:n10: Language Arts – English › English Language Arts (7–9) › Grade 9 › General Outcome 2 › 2.3 Understand Forms, Elements and Techniques (https://goa-cc-uat-aili-app-001.azurewebsites.net/explore/node/15584)