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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. For what reason does Nelson reveal his mother has grounded him in Chapter 17?

2. How long does Debra claim it has been since she and Jason last talked in Chapter 13?

3. Who does Kyle ask to attend a high school basketball game with him in Chapter 20?

4. What does Kyle's father suggest he might do after Kyle's fight with Jack and Jose?

5. For what reason does Jason tell Debra he can no longer be with her?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Debra react when Jason tells her that he thinks he might be gay?

2. Who does Nelson tell Shea he has been contacting over the Internet? For what reason does Shea suggest Nelson has been contacting this person?

3. Why does Jason feel that his father's leaving is his fault? How does Jason's father compare to Kyle and Nelson's fathers in this novel?

4. Nelson and his mother both speak at the school board meeting to support the beginning of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at the high school. What does Nelson talk about and what impact does it have on the board and those who oppose the club?

5. What happens when Jason comes across Jack Ransom and his friends fighting with Nelson and Kyle? How does Jason respond?

6. How does Kyle's father react to meeting Jason for the first time? How does this make Kyle feel?

7. Where does Nelson meet Brick? What happens when Nelson meets Brick at a local coffee bar?

8. With whom does Nelson go out in this chapter of the novel? What is different about this date than some of Nelson's other social encounters?

9. What happens to Nelson that makes Jason feel the need to interfere? What does Jason do?

10. How do Kyle's parents respond to a harassing phone call placed to their home in response to Kyle's involvement in the forming of a GSA club at school? How does this inspire Kyle to stand up for himself in an unusual way?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Nelson feel about his father? How involved in his life is Nelson's father? Why does Nelson not appreciate the Christmas gift his father sends to him? Why does Nelson get angry with his father when they speak on the phone? Why does Nelson's father fail to show up to take him to dinner? How does his relationship with his father impact Nelson's emotional state? How does it impact Nelson's deep desire to be loved? How does Nelson's father show that he is not as supportive of Nelson's sexuality as Nelson's mother?

Essay Topic 2

Why is Jason so afraid for people to learn about his friendship with Kyle? Why is Jason afraid of people learning he is gay? Why does Jason hesitate to do things, such as rescue Kyle and Nelson from bullies or attend the GSA meeting? What often changes Jason's mind? How does Jason come to tell his father the truth about his sexuality? How does Jason's father react? Why does Jason believe it is his fault that his father left the family? Is his father leaving such a bad thing for Jason and his family? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

What makes Jason think that his father will not be supportive of his sexuality? How does Jason know how his father will react? Where does this behavior more than likely come from? How does Jason's mother treat him? Is she accepting of his sexuality? Why does Jason's mother join Al-Anon? What is Al-Anon designed to do for people? What does this say about Jason's home life? What does Jason hope will allow him to escape the situation at home? What threatens this escape plan?

(see the answer keys)

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