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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 Mclean's little stepbrother?

2. What usually happens before Mclean and her father leave a place?

3. Mclean learns that her mother had not been talking about her at the beach house, but rather about _______________.

4. Where does Mclean go when school lets out early?

5. How did Mclean's parents know where she was when she left the beach house?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Gus show his commitment to making the restaurant a success?

2. What does Mclean learn about why her mother has met with an attorney?

3. Explain the foreshadowing used by the author when she mentions Mclean's old car?

4. Why do Mclean and Deb especially enjoy going to Riley's house for dinner?

5. What does Mclean offer to do in exchange for her mother dropping the new custody arrangement?

6. How does Mclean feel about being in this town after living here for two months?

7. Why does Mclean feel like she is being pushed out of her mother's house when she sees her things in storage and where does she go for a feeling of solidity?

8. What are Mclean's evolving thoughts about what home really is as she and her parents talk about the future?

9. What does Lindsay do with Mclean's father at the restaurant that flusters Opal and starts to make Mclean feel like she's on shaky ground?

10. How does Mclean's mother respond when Mclean confronts her on the phone about the choices her mother has made that have impacted their lives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Opal. What is her role in the story? What was the author trying to accomplish by developing Opal's character in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of struggle. Identify at least two instances about struggle in the book and then cite examples to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Sarah Dessen is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphor, and irony, and briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

(see the answer keys)

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