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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Whom does Hunter move in with in the course of the novel?

2. What is the name of Autumn's grandmother who shows up the day of her aunt's wedding in the novel?

3. What concerns Hunter about his biological father?

4. Where is Summer told she is moving to live with a foster family after her father's arrest?

5. Whom does Nikki overhear a message from on Hunter's phone, indicating he has cheated on her?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Kyle spend Thanksgiving in the novel? How does Summer feel about his absence?

2. What is the reader left wondering after Hunter's first interaction with his potential biological father in the novel?

3. What discussions does Hunter have with his adoptive parents after leaving Nikki in the novel? What does Hunter learn?

4. Where do Summer and Kyle go after running away in the novel? What are their plans?

5. How does Summer feel about her decision to run away from her foster home in the novel? Why?

6. What is Hunter's reaction upon first seeing the man he believes to be his biological father in the novel? Where does this take place?

7. How does Autumn feel about the wedding planning for her aunt after Thanksgiving in the novel? Who does she invite over while her aunt is away?

8. What is foreshadowed by Autumn's illness in the novel? Who suggests a potential cause for the illness?

9. What happens after Nikki discovers Hunter's infidelity in the novel? Where does Hunter move?

10. What risks does Autumn take in her first sexual encounter in the novel? What has led to this behavior?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss examples of symbolism and imagery in the narrative. What does the stranger at the talent show represent to Hunter? What is symbolized by Hunter's infidelity with Leah in the narrative? What does Kristina represent symbolically to each of her children?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the impact of Kristina's actions on her mother, Marie Haskins, and her stepfather, Scott Haskins. In what ways has Marie defended and even enabled her daughter's harmful behavior? Why? How have Kristina's actions impacted her siblings?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of sexual abuse in the novel. Which characters have been abused and by whom? Who is to blame for the abuse that Kristina's children have suffered and why? In what ways did Kristina herself face sexual abuse?

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