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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. Who is Jason?

2. Who is described as overweight but friendly?

3. What happens between Darren and his dad that morning?

4. When does Deanna hang out with Stacy?

5. What does Deanna believe at the first place she stops with Lee?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Deanna's surfer girl stories become journal entries?

2. What does Deanna and Lee do before Deanna has to work one evening?

3. Describe the incident when Deanna was thirteen and she felt drawn to Tommy.

4. What does Lee ask Deanna's advice concerning Jason?

5. How do Deanna and Lee become friends?

6. What happens when Deanna goes to a pizza parlor to drop off a resume?

7. How does Deanna transform her experience with Tommy?

8. Who interrupts the assault on Deanna and how is he treated?

9. About what does Deanna's father hint at when she sees him at home after school?

10. What does Deanna say about April and what is Deanna's fantasy concerning April and April's parents?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Over the course of Story of a Girl, Deanna grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. Story of a Girl might be considered a slice of Deanna's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that Story of a Girl is a "bildungsroman" of Deanna. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Deanna as she changes from a more carefree, innocent girl to a wiser, more mature teen. What are the significant events that change Deanna?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Deanna's growth throughout Story of a Girl, do you think Story of a Girl could be considered Deanna's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in Story of a Girl who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Story of a Girl. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in Story of a Girl. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of honesty in Story of a Girl. How has dishonesty hurt Deanna's life? What about other characters? How does honesty help Deanna's life? Has dishonesty played a part in Deanna's problems? How does dishonesty hurt Deanna and her father's relationship?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Sara Zarr.

2. What in Zarr's background may have helped her in writing Story of a Girl? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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