2. Who does Jeannette think that they are going to see and maybe even stay with in Arizona?
(a) Neighbors from when Jeannette was small.
(b) Rex's parents.
(c) Grandma Smith.
(d) Her mother's friends.

3. Where do Jeannette's parents live in Part 1 of the book?
(a) They are homeless.
(b) With friends in a housing project.
(c) In a nursing home.
(d) In a halfway house.

4. What happens when the children are traveling in the back of the U-haul to Battle Mountain?
(a) The baby becomes very ill.
(b) The truck catches on fire.
(c) The truck breaks down and the children have to hike many hours.
(d) The door of the U-haul comes open and the parents don't notice.

5. What genre of book is "The Glass Castle"?
(a) Memoir.
(b) Suspense.
(c) Non-fiction.
(d) Biography.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Rex take the children to the zoo?

2. In Part 2, how old is Jeannette when she gets injured?

3. What are Jeannette's feelings towards her parents in light of her upbringing?

4. Why does Jeannette enjoy staying with Grandma Smith?

5. What happens to Jeannette when she first starts school in Blythe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Rose Mary's reply in Part 1 to Jeannette's asking her what she should tell others about her mother?

2. How does Rose Mary's philosophy of life make it difficult for her to hold a job?

3. What are some examples of the neglect that the children suffer during their time in both Battle Mountain and in Phoenix?

4. What gift does Jeannette ask her father for on her tenth birthday and how does he react?

5. What feelings does Jeannette have when she first sees her mother from afar in Part 1?

6. "The Glass Castle" is the author's story of the unusual, and some would say tragic, circumstances of her childhood. What is the author's tone as she tells her story? How does this reflect who she is as a person?

7. What is life like for the Walls children when they first move to Phoenix?

8. How does the author describe her father in Part 2 of the book?

9. What incident precipitates the family's leaving Battle Mountain for Phoenix?

10. Why does Rex dislike staying with Rose Mary's mother (Grandma Smith)?

(see the answer keys)

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