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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 does Mars Bar challenge Maniac to?

2. How does Maniac convince the boys to go back to Two Mills?

3. What does Maniac have to convince John that he hadn't done after delivering back his brothers?

4. Where do Maniac and Grayson go on Christmas morning?

5. How many nights does Maniac stay in the cabin in Valley Forge?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Russell and why can't Maniac save him?

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

3. How does Mars Bar's rescue of Russell help change the prejudices of the town?

4. What are the McNabs building in their house and why?

5. How does the situation with Mars Bar climax at Piper's birthday party and how does Mars Bar deal with it all?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the pillbox the most frightening part of the whole novel? What does the pillbox symbolize? When John McNab states that others will build one once they see the McNabs, why does this make Maniac sick? Why should it make anyone sick?

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

John McNab is a complex, dynamic character. How so? How does his characterization affect the themes of race in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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