Breathing Underwater

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Chapters 1-6

Reading Check

1. Where is Nick’s father from?

2.  What does Nick take to his second group session after his father sells his car?

3. What is the name of Tom’s dog?

4. Who does Nick protect Caitlin from at a party?

5. Which of Caitlin’s friends made Nick feel threatened, causing him to isolate Caitlin from the friendship?

6. What item did Nick add to Rosa’s list, provoking his father to react violently?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Nick believe Caitlin lied to the judge about his physical abuse?

2. When does Nick first realize his relationship with his father is not normal?

3. Why does Nick feel betrayed by his friends?

Paired Resource

Signs of an Abusive Relationship

• This article describes the types and signs of abuse and explains how to get help.
• What are the types of abuse? What are some of the signs of abuse? What should an individual do if they experience an abusive relationship? How is this article related to the novel’s themes of Fantasy Versus Reality in the Postmodern Novel and Overcoming Trust Issues and Embracing Vulnerability?

Chapters 7-12

Reading Check

1. What does Nick take from Caitlin after he bumps into her in the hall?

2. How does Nick explain the damage to his face inflicted by his father?

3. Who in Nick’s group claims that kids are too sensitive and need physical discipline?

4. What does Nick tell a story about in an attempt to appease Caitlin so she will not leave him?

5. Who is Caitlin’s new love interest?

6. Which of the characters from Nick’s group rescues him after Caitlin accuses Nick of stalking her?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why is Nick angry with Caitlin the day after his father beat him for tricking Rosa into buying beer?

2. How does Nick react to the necklace that Caitlin wears? Why does he react this way?

Paired Resource

Generational Cycle of Violence

• This article explores the value of intervention groups for domestic abuse and how this novel is being used as a conversation starter with the purpose of ending the generational cycle of abuse.
• What is the intended goal of group therapy addressing generational abuse? Why might those who have experienced abuse at home have difficulty defining abusive behavior? How is this article’s content related to the novel’s themes of The Generational Cycle of Violence and Fear and Overcoming Trust Issues and Embracing Vulnerability?

Chapters 13-18

Reading Check

1. What does Nick call Caitlin after she reveals she will not be spending Thanksgiving with him in Key West?

2. What does Nick plan to give Caitlin to convince her to come back to him?

3. What is Caitlin initiated into following the homecoming celebration?

4. What does Nick receive an A+ on, making him proud?

5. Who gives money to a street performer, earning Caitlin’s praise?

6. What fear of Caitlin’s is revealed?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Caitlin credit Nick for her win as homecoming queen, and why does Nick feel guilty about it?

2. Why does Nick choose to ignore signs of Leo’s control over Neysa?

3. How does Nick react to Caitlin overcoming her fear, and why does he react this way?

Paired Resource

Emotional Abuse

• This 5-minute video describes emotional abuse and why it can be difficult to identify.
• Why is emotional abuse difficult to identify? What are some warning signs of emotional abuse? What kinds of behaviors are associated with emotional abuse? How can kindness contribute to the cycle of abuse? How is the information suggested in this resource related to the novel’s theme of Fantasy Versus Reality in the Postmodern Novel?

Chapters 19-24

Reading Check

1. What does Nick promise to buy Caitlin after they swerve into oncoming traffic?

2. Who is the subject of Elsa’s poem in Mrs. Higgins’s class?

3. What does Nick rid himself of after he is confronted by Tom and Saint?

4. What choir event does Caitlin forgo, fearing Nick’s reaction?

5. Who suspects Nick is being abused at home and asks him about it?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Mrs. Higgins help Nick to overcome some of his frustrations at school?

2. Why does Nick choose not to explain his difficulties at home to Tom?

Paired Resource

“Learning to Trust After an Abusive Relationship”

• This article explores the development of trust after an abusive relationship.
• What struggles do survivors cope with following abuse? What is a trauma bond? Why might survivors of abuse repeat traumatic relationships? How can trust be rebuilt? How is this article related to the novel’s themes of The Generational Cycle of Violence and Fear and Overcoming Trust Issues and Embracing Vulnerability?

Chapters 25-31

Reading Check

1. Who calls Nick asking for help?

2. What day does Caitlin break up with Nick for good?

3. Who in Nick’s group died by suicide?

4. What does Nick throw in front of the train?

5. Who does Nick identify with for the first time on his last day of family violence class?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What causes Nick to break off his friendship with Leo?

2. How does Nick confront his father over the abuse he has inflicted on Nick?

3. How do Tom and Nick reconcile?

Recommended Next Reads

We Were Here by Matt de la Peña

• This novel is about a group of young adults who escape a group home and embark on a journey that is recorded in Miguel’s court-appointed journal.
• Shared topics include forgiveness, family conflict, and unlikely friendships.
• Shared themes include The Generational Cycle of Violence and Fear and Overcoming Trust Issues and Embracing Vulnerability.
• We Were Here on SuperSummary

Notes from the Midnight Driver by Jordan Sonnenblick

• This novel is about a young adult who is assigned to community service in a nursing home after being arrested for drunk driving.
• Shared topics include forgiveness, unlikely friendships, and healing.
• Shared themes include Overcoming Trust Issues and Embracing Vulnerability.
• Notes from the Midnight Driver on SuperSummary