78 pages • 2 hours read
Steve PembertonA Chance in the World
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
Why do you think Betty called Steve from the hospital while she was dying? How does Steve’s reaction to the call relate to his personal development? Use examples from the book to support your answer.
Citing specific examples, describe the book’s commentary on the need for reform in child protective services and the foster care system.
Discuss the meaning of biological family, found family, and creating a family of one’s own as it pertains to Steve’s search for belonging and a sense of home. Support your answer with evidence from the book.
Discuss the role of faith in the book. How does it pertain to Steve’s search for his family and identity? Cite specific examples from the book.
Why did Steve identify so strongly with the rabbits from Watership Down? How does this connection help him survive, and how does it motivate him?
Explain why Steve is drawn to Jimmy and the custodial crew. What void are they filling in Steve’s life? How does this experience shape Steve’s future ambitions?
Why do you think Marian left Steve’s name off the list of her children in the letter she wrote to her father? How does this affect Steve’s opinion of his mother, his own identity, and his future?
Discuss the concept of identity in your own life. How do you primarily define yourself, and why?
How does Steve’s attitude towards his mother change over the course of the story? Citing examples from the book, discuss the reasons for the evolution of Steve’s perspective.
What drives Steve in his quest to find his family? Why did he succeed when other children in similar situations might have given up or crumbled under the weight of the abuse they suffered?
