“I, Hungry Hannah Cassandra Glen” by Norma Fox Mazer Close Reading Questions

For many middle and high school readers, realistic and young adult fiction are high-interest genres that maximize engagement with literature. “I, Hungry Hannah Cassandra Glen” by Norma Fox Mazer is a short story told from the perspective of a teen girl whose economic hardships lead her to come up with an unconventional approach to overcoming a predicament. This complementary close reading activity helps students extend beyond reading comprehension and practice high-order thinking skills. An answer key is included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By engaging with this close reading activity, students will:

• Discern what the text states explicitly and implicitly
• Identify the narrative’s inciting incident
• Explore character motivations
• Examine how complex characters think, behave, and interact with others
• Compare and contrast the nature of two separate relationships
• Explore what a particular detail reveals about the protagonist’s psychological state
• Identify factors that contribute to the emerging conflict between the protagonist and her friend
• Identify and explain an example of situational irony
• Analyze the author’s use of figurative language to articulate its meaning
• Explain the significance of a particular detail
• Articulate the symbolism associated with the name “Crow”
• Write ideas with clarity, accuracy, and precision