Game Changer

Multiple Choice

1. C (Pages 8-9)

2. B (Page 24)

3. A (Pages 46-48)

4. B (Pages 53-55)

5. A (Page 66)

6. D (Pages 78-80)

7. B (Page 110)

8. C (Pages 113-114)

9. A (Page 129)

10. A (Page 172)

11. D (Page 187)

12. A (Page 222)

13. D (Pages 238-239)

14. B (Pages 274-276)

Long Answer

1. The emotional drama of the novel centers on how Ethan Metzger handles the guilt he feels about his overly aggressive behavior. His initial responses are as understandable as they are self-destructive. He attempts first to isolate himself—to stay off social media and not go to school. Then he attempts to engage the school therapist in a kind of talk therapy, but Ethan refuses to talk about his guilt. Then he considers flight, going with homeschooling or maybe transferring to another school. He even considers dropping out of football. Each is an escape, in its own way a kind of emotional coma, a retreat, a space apart. In the end, he comes to understand that he cannot run from his actions. In going to the hospital, he admits his guilt and accepts the consequences. That honesty makes Ethan heroic because he has no reason to do so except his own troubled conscience. (Various pages)

2. The final chapters refuse to close the case on the football program because the novel asks the reader to consider all the options. The book raises questions and refuses to answer them in any tidy fashion. This reflects the reality that schools and communities face with athletics. That open-endedness leaves the reader with difficult questions to answer: Should anyone face charges for the injuries? Did the coaching staff abdicate its responsibilities? Should the school be held accountable legally for sponsoring the football camp? Will Ethan face charges? Will Teddy return to football? This approach makes the reader an active participant in the story, which makes the thorny questions the novel raises relevant and immediate. (Various pages)

3. The novel highlights the important role that high school athletics play in small communities as a way to underscore the value of sports. The fall season brings hope and a sense of renewal to the town. The coach is not the only character to defend football for developing boys into men by giving them discipline, communication skills, and self-esteem. Teddy’s father and Ethan’s therapist, who both played high school football, understand how the game creates camaraderie, encourages teamwork, and instills pride. Even Teddy in his fragmented thoughts while he is in the coma recalls the raw energy and enthusiasm of the football camp, his pride in performing in ways that the upperclassmen notice, and especially his sense of belonging—critical at the threshold age when Teddy is transitioning to high school. (Various pages)