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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 can Maniac hear even further away than before, now that he is not living in any particular home in chapter 43?

2. What does Maniac experience in early July in the early mornings?

3. What story does Maniac tell to help John with his brothers?

4. What do the McNabs call the thing that they are building in the dining room of the McNab house?

5. Where does Maniac sleep one night--just once in Chapter 43?

Short Essay Questions

1. What precious gift does Grayson give to Maniac for Christmas and how does it affect Maniac?

2. Who saves Maniac from freezing to death and how do they go about it?

3. How are the two young boys that Maniac finds in the park cabin connected to Maniac?

4. What tale does Mars Bar tell Maniac about Russell?

5. Why does Maniac bring Mars Bar to Piper's birthday party?

6. What part of the day does Maniac enjoy the most and why now that June was on its way?

7. What heroic feats does Maniac perform for Russell and Piper?

8. At the end of Chapter 33, in January, what does Maniac decide about his life?

9. What relationships have been solidified by the end of the novel?

10. Why does Maniac take Mars Bar to the Pickwells?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Jerry Spinelli give the character of Maniac such incredible athletic abilities even though he is not an athlete?

Essay Topic 2

What is Maniac's inner conflict? What is the resolution of that conflict? Do you think the resolution of the conflict will be permanent? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the protagonist of the story. Why is this character the protagonist? What is the character trying to accomplish? Who is the antagonist? Why is this antagonist trying to stop the protagonist from accomplishing his/her goal?

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