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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 does Ellen blame for her mother's death?

2. What food item does Ellen take with her on her pony ride?

3. What does Ellen's friend's family sometimes eat?

4. What is left in Ellen's mailbox each month?

5. In Ellen's new life with her new mama, what runs smoothly?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways has Ellen's mother's family shown that they do not care if Ellen is being neglected?

2. In what ways does the author indicate that Ellen's father killed Ellen's mother?

3. What are some of the fun and leisure activities Ellen is granted in her new home?

4. How is the pony's name, Dolphin, a symbol of freedom to Ellen?

5. How does Ellen's grandmother cause a scene at the funeral?

6. Up to Chapter 7, what are some of the ways Ellen covers up for her father?

7. How does the author create a reversal of the mother-daughter role in the novel?

8. How is Ellen's former life and her new life an example of dualism?

9. Why does Ellen feel that her relatives are phonies?

10. Why does Ellen choose Starletta's parents when asked by the school board if Ellen has someone to take care of her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ellen describes her 11th birthday in detail in the text. Why is this birthday significant to Ellen and her journey to her new life? How does Ellen previously celebrate her birthdays?

Essay Topic 2

The author's use of foreshadowing and flashbacks was prevalent throughout the novel. List 3-5 examples of the author's use of these literary elements and how they were effectively used by the author.

Essay Topic 3

Using details from class discussions and from the text, describe how the author created a dualism in Ellen's life.

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