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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. What does Debbie have for a bedroom door?

2. What type of music does Hector's song resemble?

3. What do Peter and Debbie decide to do?

4. What is Lenny doing with his father in Chapter 16:

5. What is one of the ingredients of Hector's mother's recipe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the other teens doing while Debbie is dealing with the crisis with Mrs. Bruning?

2. What does Debbie hear her mother telling a friend about Debbie's upcoming summer?

3. With what class is Patty struggling and what does she feel from the knowledge she has learned in this class?

4. How is Mrs. Bruning when she comes home from the hospital and to what does she agree with Peter's parents?

5. What does Debbie think of Dan Persik?

6. What are Debbie and Patty doing while looking at the yearbook and what is Debbie thinking about when she looks at her own picture in the yearbook?

7. What is Peter's father's response to Mrs. Bruning's objections? How are his objections handled?

8. Who is at the Tastee Freez when the guitar lesson group arrives there and how does Hector feel about the class going to the Tastee Freez?

9. What is Lenny doing in Chapter 22 while Debbie is in the backyard reading and what saddens him when he goes into his house and comes back out?

10. How do Debbie and Peter handle the emergency with Mrs. Bruning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Over the course of "Criss Cross", Debbie grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "Criss Cross" might be considered a slice of Debbie's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that the book is a "bildungsroman" of Debbie. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Debbie as she changes from a more carefree, innocent girl to a wiser, older teen. What are the significant events that change Debbie?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Debbie's growth throughout the book, do you think "Criss Cross" could be considered Debbie's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Criss Cross" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Criss Cross" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1, and then judge if "Criss Cross" is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "Criss Cross" a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Criss Cross" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Criss Cross"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "Criss Cross" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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