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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. About how tall does Melody describe Mrs. V as being?

2. Who is the oldest kid in Melody's special education group at school?

3. How does Melody describe Penny as a baby in Chapter 9?

4. How old is Melody when her mother becomes pregnant with her second child?

5. What color does Melody describe her eyes as in Chapter 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Melody describe her mother's pregnancy in Chapter 9?

2. What are "photographic memory" and "synesthesia"? How do these terms apply to Melody in the novel?

3. Who is Dr. Hugely? What are Melody's impressions of this character?

4. How would you describe Melody's perceptions of herself in the beginning of the novel?

5. How does Melody communicate when at school in Chapter 5? Does she find this method of communication to be satisfactory?

6. How is Mrs. V described in Chapter 6? How does Melody know Mrs. V?

7. How does Melody describe her disability and its impacts on her everyday life in Chapter 2?

8. What causes Melody the most frustration in the early sections of the book? What is Melody's greatest obstacle?

9. How does Melody describe her communication with her father in Chapter 10?

10. Who is Ollie? How does Melody describe Ollie's death in Chapter 8?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the themes of communication and language in the novel. What do words represent symbolically to Melody? How does Melody communicate with her parents, teachers, and peers? How does Melody's ability to communicate evolve in the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the narrative style of Out of My Mind. From whose perspective is the story related? Why do you think the author chose to employ this narrative perspective? How would the novel change if told from a different point of view?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Melody's relationship with her parents. Who is Melody closest to? Why? Would you say that Melody's parents are supportive? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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