Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Despite his father’s certainty, Chase questions fate.

• Which most affects Chase during the hurricane: fate or free will? (topic sentence)
• Include at least three details and quotations to illustrate your ideas and explain each thoroughly.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain what Chase might share with his father about fate when they next see each other.

2. Chase and his father make preparedness a priority.

• What are the three main ways Chase’s dad helps prepare him for the hurricane? (topic sentence)
• Include three or more details, quotations, and reasonings to prove your argument.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, articulate a lesson the novel builds about being prepared.

3. Tomás travels with John and Chase and plays a key role throughout the story.