Embedded Files
CHAPTER 1
1. Who is David Ruggles? How does Susan feel about him? Why does she feel that nothing can come of her feelings?
2. Two teachers are introduced. Briefly identify them and explain how their styles are different.
3. An allusion is a reference to a person, place, book, etc., that the reader is expected to recognize. What play is the author alluding to in this chapter?
CHAPTER 2
1. Why do Jeff and Betsy go along with Mark’s plan to kidnap Mr. Griffin? Why does Mark believe David will go along with the plan?
2. What does Mark know about Susan that makes him think she will be their decoy?
3. A flashback occurs when we learn about the past actions of the characters. What flashback happens in this chapter concerning Mark? What can we conclude from this?
CHAPTER 3
1. Name and describe the members of David’s family.
2. Why does David think he needs a good education?
3. Why does David’s mother’s pastor call her a “saint”? Do you agree? Explain.
CHAPTER 4
1. Why are Saturdays special to Susan?
2. What makes Susan feel a part of the picnic group? Why does she agree to act as a decoy?
3. Who is Lana?
CHAPTER 5
1. Why did Mr. Griffin leave the university to teach at a high school? What does this reveal about him?
2. What does Mr. Griffin think about Susan?
3. Why does Mrs. Griffin want Brian to compliment Susan on her writing?
CHAPTER 6
1. What little things go wrong with the kidnapping?
2. In what way does Mr. Griffin earn the respect of his kidnappers?
3. Why is Susan especially upset about her part in the kidnapping? What did Mr. Griffin do to make her feel this way?
CHAPTER 7
1. What mistake does Betsy make with the police officer?
2. Who finds the container of pills? Where?
3. Who wants to let Mr. Griffin go? Why don’t they?
CHAPTER 8
1. Explain how David begins to see Susan as a real person.
2. Why do David and Susan go back to the kidnapping scene?
3. How does David know Mr. Griffin is dead? Why did he die?
CHAPTER 9
1. What two things does Mark say that they need to do to be safe?
2. How does Mark convince Susan they need to bury the body?
3. How does Mark’s father die?
CHAPTER 10
1. How do Mark’s aunt and uncle feel about him? How do they rationalize his strange behavior?
2. What does David’s grandmother remember about the day before that upsets David?
3. In the conversation with his grandmother, what mistakes does David make that may hurt his alibi?
CHAPTER 11
1. Why isn’t Susan surprised to hear her name over the loudspeaker? Why is she called to the office?
2. How has Susan’s feelings toward her family changed since the beginning of the story?
3. Why does Susan agree to Mark’s lie? Why does Mark want her to lie?
CHAPTER 12
1. What two things does David do at the grave to show his remorse?
2. Why does Mark keep Mr. Griffin’s credit cards?
3. Why does Mark tell them to leave the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition?
CHAPTER 13
1. How does Mrs. Griffin surprise Susan?
2. Why is Mrs. Griffin certain that Susan is lying?
3. How do Susan’s parents react to this accusation?
CHAPTER 14
1. Why does David’s grandmother believe he is secretly seeing his father?
2. What does Lana tell Lt. Baca that leads him to the scene of the crime? How does she expose Mark?
3. Why does Mark think the news report of finding Mr. Griffin is false?
CHAPTER 15
1. Why does David take Mr. Griffin’s ring? What is inscribed on the ring?
2. What is Susan’s opinion of David’s grandmother?
3. Why does Susan call Mark after she leaves David’s house?
CHAPTER 16
1. How do the Garretts regard their son, Jeff?
2. Why does David’s grandmother refuse to attend church?
3. Why won’t David’s grandmother return the ring to David? What evidence leads Gram to her conclusions about the ring?
4. What clue in the story reveals the identity of Irma Ruggles’ visitor?
CHAPTER 17
1. Why do Betsy and Jeff stop by to see Susan? Why is Susan alone in her house?
2. What is surprising about David’s grandmother’s death? How does Susan figure this out?
3. Why doesn’t Susan go to the police with her suspicions about Mark?
CHAPTER 18
1. How does Mark feel after he sets the fire?
2. How does Susan feel about Mark?
3. Why does Susan scream, “I’m going to die. You’re glad, aren’t you?” How does Mrs. Griffin respond?
CHAPTER 19
1. Why do Kathy Griffin and Lt. Baca show up at Susan’s house, just in time to prevent her death?
2. How does Mrs. Griffin recognize the car?
3. What evidence do we have that Kathy Griffin has forgiven Susan for her part in Mr. Griffin’s death? Has Susan learned a lesson? If so, what is it?
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