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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 Ruth Connors?

2. Who documents Lindsey and Samuel's budding relationship in a diary?

3. Who observes Jack's surgery as he is sewn back together after being attacked in the cornfield?

4. Who comforts Jack when he is found sobbing in Susie's room after his emotions bubble to the surface for the first time after Susie's death?

5. What items does Lindsey stroke when she enters Susie's room for the first time after her death?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Samuel Heckler first meets the Salmon family, what does the reader learn about him?

2. How does Mr. Harvey dispose of Susie's body?

3. Why is the first picture Susie takes of her mother so memorable to Susie?

4. How is the reader supposed to interpret Lindsey's reaction to seeing Mr. Harvey at Susie's memorial?

5. After Susie's murder, Lindsey has a rough time at school. What is it about school that makes her so angry?

6. Why does Grandma Lynn at first avoid Lindsey's questions about who her father suspects was involved in Susie's murder?

7. After she tells of her own murder, what embarrassing story about Lindsey does Susie recall?

8. How does Ruth Connors begin expressing herself after she sees Susie's ghost?

9. Who is Claire?

10. How do the police respond to Jack's constant phone calls about Mr. Harvey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout The Lovely Bones, there are several situations where characters come to a realization about something, but not an acceptance about it. In a well-structured essay, discuss 1) the difference between realizing something and accepting it, 2) at least two situations/characters where this discrepancy is obvious, and 3) when, if ever, these characters come to accept something that they had earlier only realized.

Essay Topic 2

While the character of Mr. Harvey is quite complicated, Sebold lets the reader into his background, mindset, and psychology more than an average author might. Using what the reader knows about Mr. Harvey's dreams, discuss three aspects of his character that the reader may not otherwise have known about.

Essay Topic 3

Why does Susie remain in her heaven for so long? Make sure to discuss at least three reasons why, as well as what was eventually needed for her to leave. Use specific examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 672 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample