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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 book is Charlie reading in Chapter One?

2. How does the cricket coach handle the bullying toward Jeffrey?

3. What murderer does Charlie NOT read about?

4. What movie does Charlie claim is giving him nightmares?

5. Where is this story set?

Short Essay Questions

1. What advice does Charlie's dad, Wesley, give Charlie about dealing with his mother?

2. In what ways does Wesley Bucktin remind Charlie of Atticus Finch?

3. How does Charlie's research into killers affect the way he thinks about his town?

4. Describe Jasper's homelife.

5. What is the purpose of the character of Warwick Trent?

6. Charlie keeps referring to his choice to wear shoes as "pansy" (25). Why does he feel this way?

7. It is shocking that Jasper wants to hide Laura's body in the river. Does he respect her?

8. How does Wesley Bucktin describe Laura Wishart, from a teacher's point of view?

9. Charlie loves American books about justice, especially in relation to race, Civil Rights, and the Civil War. How do these allusions help us understand Charlie?

10. Explore Jeffrey and Charlie's use of curse words. How does the author use their vernacular to help clarify their friendship and who they are?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, Charlie thinks of the way he walks in relation to others. Sometimes he is behind, other times he is in the lead or walking side-by-side with someone else. Write an essay in which you discuss the changes in Charlie's character as he relates to others in this way.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay in which you chronicle the friendship between Jeffrey Lu and Charlie Bucktin. What makes them such a great match?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you explore the ways that Jasper, Charlie, Jack Lionel, and Wesley create a new world in which women and minorities have the possibilities of rights and respect. You may focus on one topic or on more than one character.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,053 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample