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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 Beck's first name?

2. What is the name of the man who owns the bookshop?

3. What is the name of the bookshop's other employee?

4. What is Benji's full name?

5. Beck is upset that who does not attend her fiction reading?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of the red ladle?

2. How do Joe and Peach get along when they first meet? What does Joe discover inside Peach's house?

3. On what surprising topic does Joe quiz Benji? What are the results?

4. How does Joe dispose of Benji?

5. What does Benji give Joe? What does he tell him about this item?

6. What is the "cage," and where is it located?

7. How does the trip to IKEA help Joe's relationship with Beck?

8. What special gift does Beck give Joe? Why?

9. Why did Mr. Mooney punish Joe? How did he punish him?

10. Why does Beck become angry in the subway station?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Beck and Karen Minty. In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different? How do their similarities and differences highlight the novel’s themes?

Essay Topic 2

Books are very important to the story. Discuss how characters like Joe, Beck, Mr. Mooney, and Peach view books. What point do you think the author is trying to make regarding the importance of books?

Essay Topic 3

To what extent is Joe a sympathetic character? Explain the “likeability” of Joe’s character, using examples from the text to support your argument.

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