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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 the note on Hattie's table say when she returns home?

2. What does Perilee accept from Hattie?

3. Who rides up with a cow?

4. Who is Chester?

5. What does Perilee say she is too busy to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who has been Hattie's main supporters when she comes to live with Uncle Holt and Aunt Ivy?

2. Why do Chase and Mattie not stop in for their customary biscuits at Hattie's one day, and what does Hattie do?

3. How does Hattie find a small source of income for herself?

4. What does Mr. Saboe announce?

5. Who arrives to pick Mattie up in Wolf Point, and why do they spend the night there?

6. How does Violet lose part of her tail?

7. How does Hattie defuse Traft's aggression towards Mr. Saboe?

8. How does Leafie stop some men from running the Mueller's cow to death?

9. With what does Perilee leave Hattie as they drop her off at her new home, and what does Hattie give her in return?

10. Where does Hattie go to live at age 13, and what is Ivy's reaction to Hattie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by teen historical fiction--questions that Larson may wish readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Larson's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Larson's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Larson and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

Essay Topic 2

"Hattie Big Sky" belongs to the teen historical fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the fictional memoir genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a teen historical fiction and teen fiction?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Kirby Larson.

2. What in Kirby Larson's background may have helped her in writing "Hattie Big Sky"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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