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. In the narrative, Cass’s and Max-Ernest’s unique skills and differences are important parts of their characters.

• How do Cass’s and Max-Ernest’s differences from others help or hurt them in the novel? (topic sentence)
• Identify the traits that make Cass and Max-Ernest different from others. Discuss how their differences help them succeed in the novel. How do they overcome challenges to achieve their goals?
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, connect the role of personal differences in the novel to one of the novel’s themes.

2. Riddles and codes are prominent motifs in the novel that offer access to hidden information and hidden worlds.

• How are riddles and codes important to the plot and other elements in the story? (topic sentence)
• How are riddles and codes a symbol of the Secret world? How do Cass and Max-Ernest use code breaking to navigate the Secret world?
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, evaluate the author’s purpose for including riddles and codes in the novel.