SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter One REVIEW QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. Requests from the tenants “fell on deaf ears”. What does this mean?
2. What was Roylin’s relationship with his father like?
3. What is Amberlynn, his sister, so excited about?
4. What happened to Roy that involved Bobby Wallace and Londell?
5. What kind of life does Roylin have?
(turn over)
6. What do you predict will be the relationship between Korie and Roylin in the rest of the story?
7. Look at the front cover. Predict what may happen in the story.
8. What is Roylin’s opinion of himself? Why? Why does he think he is dreaming that Korie talks to him?
Short Essay
9. Can you relate to the main character Roylin at all? Why or why not? Tell about a time when you felt insecure about something.
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Two QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. What does Roylin lie about?
2. What troubles do Korie and Roylin have in common?
3. If Roylin gets the necklace for Korie, what does he expect from her?
4. Although Roylin doesn’t want to be like his father, what does he catch himself doing that his dad also did?
5. When does Roylin realize he has trapped himself?
6. What’s Roylin’s mom’s reaction when he asks for a loan?
7. Roylin really wants the necklace and will do anything for it. What are some bad decisions Roylin could make?
Short Essay
Did you ever tell a lie that started off small, but then got out of hand? Explain.
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Three QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. Why didn’t Mr. Miller put his money in the bank?
2. What did Roylin do that made him deeply ashamed of himself?
3. What two emotions were “clashing in his head”? What does the author mean by “clashing”?
4. When Korie asks playfully, “What are you getting me for my birthday?”, do you think she was just joking around? Why or why not?
5. What happened to Mr. Miller when he realized someone stole from him?
6. What is Tuttle’s plan to solve the problem with Mr. Miller?
7. What does Tuttle expect to be owed by Roylin after they put forth their plan?
8. What’s Roylin’s initial reaction to Tuttle’s plan? What does he end up deciding?
Short Essay
Have you ever done something knowing at the time it was wrong, but thinking you had no other choice? Explain.
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Four QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. What’s Tuttle’s plan on what to do with the body?
2. How is Tuttle benefiting from the plan?
3. How is Roylin becoming more like his father?
4. What was Roylin’s dream about?
5. What bad things had Roylin done before this?
6. What happens at school with Steve Morris and Cooper?
Short Essay(s)
Have you ever regretted something? Do you think there is any use in regretting when the past is past?
What would YOU do in Roylin’s situation?
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Five QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. Tarah joked with Korie about Roylin and said, “Boy Korie, you sure got him trained!” Do you agree with Tarah? Explain.
2. How does Roylin try to convince himself that he is not guilty?
3. What does Hakeem think about Korie?
4. Roylin snaps (just like his dad used to) when talking to Amberlynn and does what?
5. When Roylin insults her cheap jewelry, Darcy says, “Like they say, it’s the thought that counts. Not the price.” Do you agree with her statement? Why or why not?
6. Even though Roylin knows he should keep his mouth shut about the necklace and money, he can’t help but brag to Darcy about it. Why do you think he can’t help himself?
Short Essay
When people do bad things, they often try to convince themselves that what they have done is not that bad. This is called “rationalizing”. Have you ever rationalized anything you have done? Explain.
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Six QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. What choices does Tuttle give Roylin regarding jobs?
2. When in Mr. Miller’s apartment, what memories came back to him?
3. What does he find in one of the boxes that makes him particularly upset?
4. Why was Mr. Miller more of a father to him than his actual father was?
5. Because Roylin feels he must escape, what does he decide to do?
6. What was Korie’s reaction to receiving the necklace? Do you think the feelings she professes to Roylin are genuine? Why or why not?
Short Essay
Have you ever looked forward to something so much that when it happened, you were left feeling alone and without purpose? Did you find something else to look forward to? Explain.
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Seven QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. After Roylin gives Korie the necklace, what does she then ask of him?
2. What is Roylin’s solution to her problem, and how is Darcy involved?
3. What do Darcy and Roylin get into a disagreement about?
4. What did Roylin think the necklace would mean for his and Korie’s relationship?
5. Why was Roylin having a hard time sleeping?
6. Why was Roylin so unhappy that Steve was going to help Korie with her paper?
7. What is Cooper’s reaction to Roylin’s problem?
8. Have you ever been touched unexpectedly by what someone said to you or did for you? Explain.
Short Essay
Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in with a particular social group? Have you ever felt you fit in with no one? Do you think others must feel the same way as you? Explain.
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Eight QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. What did Cooper used to confide in Roylin about back in middle school?
2. What did Tarah mean when she said, “That boy can take the sourest mess of lemons and make the sweetest lemonade”?
3. What evidence does Tuttle have against Roylin that makes it hard for Roylin to get out of their agreement?
4. Why did Korie tell her mom that she was studying at Brisanna’s?
5. What is Roylin’s reaction to finding out where Korie is? Do you think it is a normal reaction?
6. Was all that Roylin did so far worth it in the end? Would you have reacted the same way if what happened with Korie happened to you?
Short Essay
Have you ever been betrayed by a friend or a girlfriend/boyfriend? Do you remember how you felt? Do you trust people?
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Nine QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. How does Roylin feel after the fight is over?
2. Roylin is upset and needs a friend to talk to. The only friend he can think of is Mr. Miller. What is so ironic about this?
3. Why was Roylin surprised about Cooper showing up?
4. What good point about Mr. Miller’s death is pointed out by Cooper?
5. Cooper points out that Roylin did some good things regarding Mr. Miller. What were some of theses things?
6. What plan does Cooper come up with?
Short Essay
Has anyone ever done something nice for you that was unexpected? Explain.
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Ten QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. What’s the big surprise at the beginning of Chapter 10?
2. How did they confront Tuttle with the news?
3. What really happened to Mr. Miller?
4. After confronting Tuttle, Roylin says he feels, “like a ton of bricks just fell off his chest.” What does he mean? Have you ever felt this way? Explain.
5. Roylin is happy at the end of the chapter and says, “Mom, I was dead and now I’m alive… I was blind and now I see.” What do you think he means?
Short Essay
Have you ever been through a rough time and had it be resolved quickly? Have you ever felt a huge sense of relief after you were really worried about something? Explain.
SECRETS IN THE SHADOWS Chapter Eleven QUESTIONS
Answer the questions in complete sentences.
1. What strikes Roylin as very sad when he enters the nursing home?
2. What does Mr. Miller think happened to him?
3. How does Roylin decide he’s going to pay Mr. Miler back? Do you think this is a good decision?
4. What does Roylin suggest to his friends that they do?
5. What does Korie have to say to Roylin when she visits him?
Short Essay
Have you ever been put in a situation where someone who has betrayed you asked for forgiveness? What did you do?