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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 Addie say about mid-December?

2. What does Addie remember she needs to do when she is over at the minimart?

3. Where does Addie have lunch?

4. What was Denise unwilling to do in the past concerning Addie?

5. What does Addie discover about her box of chocolates?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Addie react when she finds Hannah making breakfast the next morning?

2. What does Grandio give Addie and how does she react?

3. How does Addie compare herself to Brynna and what is Dwight's response?

4. What does Addie tell Mommers about the flute and how does Denise respond?

5. What conversation does Addie overhear the night before she is leaving and how does she feel?

6. What does Denise say about Addie visiting Grandio and Dwight's family over Thanksgiving?

7. What happens with the box of chocolates?

8. What does Dwight do when he meets Addie after school on Valentine's Day?

9. What do Soula and Elliot give Addie for Christmas and what is Addie's response?

10. Who meets Addie at Lake George and why is it okay that her paper bag of clothes breaks?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Waiting for Normal belongs to the young teen novel genre. Discuss the following:

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

Essay Topic 2

Over the course of "Waiting for Normal", Addie grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "Waiting for Normal" might be considered a slice of Addie's larger story, of her "coming of age." It might be said that this novel is a "bildungsroman" of Addie Schmeeter. 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 Addie as she changes from a more carefree, innocent girl to a wiser young girl. What are the significant events that change Addie?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Addie's growth throughout Waiting for Normal, do you think "Waiting for Normal" could be considered Addie's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Waiting for Normal" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Waiting for Normal" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

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