Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. In the United States, turning 18 generally marks the milestone when one becomes an adult. What areas of life change when one is considered an adult? Socially and morally, what are the characteristics of an adult?

Teaching Suggestion: Throughout The Summer I Turned Pretty, Belly deals with The Challenges of Growing Up and, in doing so, grapples with the meaning of becoming an adult. Teen readers may enjoy discussing the problems inherent with any line intended to mark the difference between child and grown-up; they will likely be quick to point out how some people mature more quickly than others due to life’s circumstances. Some students may liken the concept of adulthood with increased responsibility and hardship; as Belly goes through several difficult events including her parents’ divorce, an adult’s illness, and heartbreak, this notion of hardship may be a connecting point for readers. Having students consider the definition of adult (legally, culturally, and subjectively from their perspective) will help to prepare them for Belly’s conflicts and coming-of-age.

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