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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 is discovered in Stacy's car the next morning?

2. What does Deanna ask Jason?

3. What surprises Darren about Deanna's working situation?

4. What does Deanna tell Jason she intends to do?

5. Who is late to dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Stacy say she was and what does Darren say when Deanna calls him and what is Deanna's response?

2. What do Darren and Deanna discuss concerning Stacy and April?

3. How does Deanna miss an opportunity to close the gap between her and her father?

4. What happens when Deanna goes to meet Jason and Lee at the Taco Bell?

5. What does Deanna ask Jason when she is in tears and what is his response?

6. How does Deanna end up being in a car with Tommy?

7. What does Darren learn when he calls Stacy's family?

8. What does Stacy say about Darren's belief in Deanna?

9. What is Tommy's response to Deanna's "melt-down"?

10. What happens between Darren and Deanna as he is getting April ready to go search for Stacy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 Sara Zarr.

2. What in Zarr's background may have helped her in writing Story of a Girl? 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.

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Story of a Girl and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Story of a Girl is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Over the course of Story of a Girl, Deanna grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. Story of a Girl might be considered a slice of Deanna's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that Story of a Girl is a "bildungsroman" of Deanna. 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 Deanna as she changes from a more carefree, innocent girl to a wiser, more mature teen. What are the significant events that change Deanna?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Deanna's growth throughout Story of a Girl, do you think Story of a Girl could be considered Deanna's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in Story of a Girl who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

(see the answer keys)

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