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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. How does Deanna respond to Darren's statement?

2. What does Deanna remember about the day before?

3. Why does Deanna pull away from kissing Jason?

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

5. What does Deanna think about when April is fussing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to make Deanna confront Tommy about their previous history?

2. What does Deanna realize about Tommy and about herself?

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

4. What happens when Deanna and Jason kiss?

5. What does Deanna tell Stacy she wants to do for her and Darren and what does Stacy say about it?

6. What does Deanna reflect about concerning the new family she had wanted to make for herself?

7. Why is Deanna surprised at work and why is Darren surprised when he arrives at her workplace?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Story of a Girl is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Deanna continues to move forward into her future and into new relationships with her family and friends, facing and accepting the realities of her present and possible future without any of it being, or at least feeling, haunted by the circumstances of the past. Without overtly saying so in narration, she comes across as freer and freer all the time, more connected to herself and open to genuine experiences with her family and friends, whatever those experiences might be and whatever her initial uneasiness and/or reluctance.

1. Discuss the ways in which Deanna is changing in her relationships with her family and friends. Use examples from Story of a Girl and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Deanna is becoming free of her past? Why or why not? Use examples from Story of a Girl and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss the fears that has kept Deanna tied to her past and how she might overcome them. Use examples from Story of a Girl and your own life to support your answer.

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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