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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 Katie do this time after closing the diary?

2. What do Matt and Suzanne do one night when they are in Nicky's room after he had awoken for a while?

3. Why does Matt wish he had been in the jeep?

4. What is taped to the last page of the diary?

5. What does Katie do when she tells Dr. Sassoon she is pregnant?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where do Matt and Susan have their honeymoon and what does Matt bring Suzanne every day during the honeymoon?

2. What does Suzanne learn from her cardiologist on a check up?

3. How does Suzanne fare as the days go on and what does she do once day with Nicky?

4. Who goes with Katie to the gynecologist's appointment, and how is Katie feeling as she waits to get in to see the doctor?

5. What is Katie learning from Suzanne's diary?

6. What does Matt tell Nicky as Matt sits in Nicky's room and what does Matt wish he had done?

7. What does Katie do one night for her friends the Browns?

8. What had Matt's friends and coworkers done while Matt and Suzanne were gone from the house for three days?

9. Why isn't Nicky with Matt and what does Matt wish?

10. What happens when Katie sees Matt outside her office?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Patterson is once again pulling all the emotional strings. Suzanne's heart attack gives her an enemy waiting to attack her life throughout the book. Heart disease can be fought but no one has a say when that heart will quit beating. Here she is a broken hearted heroine. With heart disease in her family, she has a target on that heart at all times. Next we have betrayal by the man she thought she loved. Betrayal of her body and then betrayal by her man.

1. Discuss reasons why Suzanne's heart attack would be considered an antagonist. Use examples from "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss the metaphoric connotations that Suzanne's "heart is broken" might have following her heart attack. Use examples from "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss the idea that one never knows when death will come and how that might be important in "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas". Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Patterson chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Patterson chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Patterson's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Patterson use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" a successful novel? What about young teens?

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