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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 is parked in a spot which Brittany thought was empty?

2. What does Alex dream of being when he is drunk at the beach?

3. The gang members tell Alex that his friend, _____________, is about to be in a fight with a rival gang.

4. Who is Hector?

5. Alex flirts with Brittany and tries to get her to ____________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. How does being a Latino Blood gang member make Alex's life harder at school and in his home life?

2. What does Brittany begin to realize about Alex that shows her that they have more in common than she thought?

3. What pressures is Brittany experiencing at home and with Colin?

4. What does Alex do as a result of Brittany's mother's dismissive behavior toward him?

5. Who is Carmen and why might Brittany have reason to fear her?

6. What unusual technique does the author use regarding point of view in this book?

7. Why is Brittany initially resistant to Alex's flirtations?

8. What halts a confrontation between Brittany and Carmen?

9. What bet does Alex make with his friends regarding Brittany?

10. What does Brittany's mother's treatment of Alex indicate about how different his life is from Brittany's?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of the search for acceptance. Identify at least two themes about acceptance in the book. Then cite an example to support each theme you name.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

Substance abuse seems to be an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the abuse? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the characters' lives? How does it affect the abusers? How does it affect those impacted by the abusers? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

(see the answer keys)

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