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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. Where does Levi calculate Boaz will head next?

2. What does Celine say she has to re-learn?

3. Why does Boaz become irate at Levi?

4. What does Christina say about Boaz's problem?

5. Who does Levi meet up with when he gets to his destination?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when a Toyota truck goes speeding by Boaz and Levi as they are walking?

2. What do the three friends learn when they pull into a Motel 9 in Ridgewood?

3. What does Celine say to Levi about her brother?

4. What does Levi do after they check in to a motel?

5. What do Celine and Levi discuss about their brothers?

6. Why does Levi sneak a call to Pearl and what does he learn?

7. How is Levi surprised when they arrive at Celine's aunt's house in Edgewood?

8. What enrages Levi so much that he goes up and pounds on Boaz's bedroom door and what happens?

9. Where is Boaz headed first?

10. What does Levi calculate and decide to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Levi senses that his parents are too close to the situation and too emotional to help Boaz. He has growing concerns about Boaz. He thinks he is planning something and, given his psychological state, Levi fears that it could be disastrous. He knows that it's very unhealthy for Boaz to be isolating himself. His parents and grandparents are in denial. Even though Levi has some feelings of envy and bitterness about his brother who has always gotten more attention than he has, at least in his mind, Levi is showing how much he cares for his brother.

1. Do you think Levi's parents' emotions could be affecting their judgment? How could that happen? Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss the problems that could occur from Boaz isolating himself. Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own life to support your answer.

3. Why do you think Levi might envy his brother? Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The Things a Brother Knows belongs to the young adult novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult novel and a historical novel mystery?

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 Dana Reinhardt.

2. What in Reinhardt's background may have helped her in writing The Things a Brother Knows? 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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