View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Joaquin do with the "Tips for Phasing Out of Foster Care" (282) he receives from a staff member at his school?

2. Who is the only member of the family who cries the day when one family members moves out permanently?

3. Who asks Joaquin to come into his office for a quick minute as Joaquin is leaving school on a Friday?

4. What does Joaquin regret telling Maya and Grace once he gets home from meeting up with them?

5. Whenever the vice principal sees Joaquin and Birdie kissing at school, he says what word in their direction?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Maya characterize her relationship with Lauren?

2. What are the characteristics of Lauren's communication with Claire that Maya considers unforgivable?

3. What turns out to be the mysterious event involving Joaquin and the Buchanans?

4. What is the symbolism of the iced tea Joaquin loathes?

5. What reasons does Joaquin provide when he tells Grace and Maya that he told Mark and Linda he did not want them to adopt him?

6. When Grace muses that she is now a girl who does not "have friends anymore" (183), she makes one exception. Whom does she say is her friend?

7. What do the Oreos symbolize in the scene between Lauren and Maya?

8. What is Rafe's family situation?

9. In what ways do Grace's parents try to get her engaged in life again after Peach's birth and adoption?

10. How is the theme of secrecy depicted within Claire's accusations toward Maya during their fight that ends in a break-up?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Robin Benway's novel Far From the Tree from an Existential perspective. What elements of life does it suggest hold the most meaning and why?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the author's focus on the theme of transformation. What message is the author sending about change and about one other theme of your choice?

Essay Topic 3

What is the message of Robin Benway's novel Far From the Tree concerning the link between family bonds and emotional stability?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,217 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample