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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. Which one of these things does Nancy not use to try and get better in August?

2. How does Nancy describe Lew?

3. What state does Nancy live in?

4. What was Nancy's first kitten's name?

5. What role does Lew have in the student body at school?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Nancy stop playing in the band?

2. What feelings do Lew and Nancy share about their parents' divorces?

3. What does Nancy admire about her mom's Aunt Thelma?

4. Why does Officer Williams have Nancy relax in a state similar to hypnosis when he comes to the house in September?

5. How does Nancy react when she sees Collin walking with Margie Muller?

6. What does Nancy worry about her blood in the middle of September's diary entries?

7. What happens the night Collin comes to make dinner at Nancy's house?

8. How does Nancy calm down during the concert?

9. What does Nancy do at the beginning of May with Dorie?

10. What is Nancy doing to try and feel better at the beginning of August?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An underlying theme throughout the story is the idea of death and finality. When Nancy is diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, she is aware she will die of the disease. As she struggles with the idea that she will die young, other characters in the story must also cope with the finality of death. Write a response focusing on the idea of death and finality as presented in the story. How do the characters cope with this idea? Use specific references to the text in the response.

Essay Topic 2

The central conflict of the story is Nancy's diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. The story focuses on her contracting the disease and battling it until she dies. Write a response exploring the role of HIV/AIDS in the story. How is the disease presented? How does the disease's presence in the story shape the events of the book? Use specific references to the text in the response.

Essay Topic 3

Nancy must face a lot of guilt connected to her rape and subsequent HIV/AIDS diagnosis. She vents some of these feelings of guilt in her diary entries. Write a response focusing on the theme of guilt in the story as it relates to Nancy's feelings. Why does she feel guilty? How does she overcome the guilt? Use specific references to the text in the response.

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