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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. Who is Dorie "messing around" with?

2. In January, what does Nancy see as her only way to escape?

3. What color is the pantsuit Nancy gets for her 16th birthday?

4. How does Nancy feel at her new school in Phoenix?

5. What does Nancy's doctor smuggle to her in February?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Doodle Day at Nancy's school?

2. How does Nancy feel about her school in Phoenix?

3. What problem does Dorie face that Nancy writes about in January?

4. What does Nancy remember about the kids she thinks she saw Collin with?

5. How do boys at school tease Nancy in April?

6. What is Nancy's job at Liz's office?

7. Why are holidays sadder than regular days for Nancy?

8. Why does Nancy go to Liz's office at the beginning of June?

9. Why has Nancy not written in her diary in three weeks?

10. What is the problem Nancy runs into with her medicine in March?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

There are many symbols throughout the story - from the Idaho ranch to the jewelry she and Lew exchange and her diary. Write a response highlighting at least three symbols present in the book. Discuss what the symbols represent and how they are important to the story. Use specific references to the text in the response.

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