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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 do Dasani's siblings compare about their foster families?

2. What does Chanel promise to her kids when she returns to her family at Auburn?

3. What happens to Joanie's urn?

4. Where is Dasani heading to at the beginning of Chapter 28?

5. Dasani’s family boarded the ferry to go to the homeless shelter in what city?

Short Essay Questions

1. Elliot says Dasani’s homelessness has set her adrift? Explain what she means by this.

2. How do the homeless afford cell phones and Nintendos?

3. What is methadone? What purpose does it serve? Who funds it?

4. In Chapter 38, what is Dasani staring at in the mock courtroom?

5. Chapter 23 opens on who's nightmare of their childhood?

6. What are Chanel and Supreme’s reasons for not looking for an apartment in Chapter 22?

7. What is the “Knockout Game” and how does it enter into Dasani’s inspirational storyline?

8. How do readers see multigenerational poverty in this book?

9. Michael Bloomberg's tenure as Mayor of New York City included an unfortunately conceived plan to purchase what item?

10. What is symbolic about Dasani's graduation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Elliott writes, “Dasani is well versed in city politics, not because she follows the news. She is simply forced to notice what other children miss.” How much did you know about your city’s politics when you were Dasani’s age? In what other ways is Dasani forced to grow up quickly?

Essay Topic 2

Dasani’s family is repeatedly displaced. What impact do you think this had on Dasani and her siblings?

Essay Topic 3

It is common for survivors of trauma to escape their pain by drinking or taking drugs. What events might have triggered Chanel and Supreme’s dependence on drugs? Did their struggle with addiction impact your view of them as parents?

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