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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 Jamie do to his mother when she gets him safely back to the trailer?

2. Where has Patty gone at the beginning of Chapter 10?

3. How does Jamie find he can change direction when skating?

4. How does Jamie offer to help his mother in this section?

5. What problems does the ice cause Patty?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what is it a good thing that Patty and Jamie confronted each other in chapter six?

2. How does Jamie show his anger in Chapter 7?

3. How do Jamie and Patty spend the week?

4. How does Mrs. Desrochers help Jamie with a Christmas present?

5. How does Earl help Patty in Chapter 9?

6. Describe the argument between Patty and Jamie in this section?

7. Why doesn't Patty want to talk on the way back home with Jamie?

8. Summarize Chapter 9.

9. How does Jamie's success at the carnival effect his mood?

10. What does Jamie think of Van when he sees him again in the final chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what way does the author suggest Van is not the nasty person he seems at the beginning of the novel? How does this complicate the relationship he has had with Patty? What does this sat the way the author think about humans in general?

Essay Topic 2

Look at the structure of the book.

How does the author use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

Discuss elements of the narrative structure; Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's themes?

Essay Topic 3

How does Jamie's obsession with magic help him forget about his problems? How does Patty use Jamie's love of magic to control him?

(see the answer keys)

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