Symptoms of Being Human

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

CHAPTERS 1-8

Reading Check

1. What is Riley’s father’s job?

2. When the popular kids make fun of Riley at lunchtime, whose lack of support especially hurts Riley’s feelings?

3. What toy did Riley once choose because they could see their father was uncomfortable with their inability to choose between a Power Ranger and a Bratz doll?

4. Which classmate does Riley find in their kitchen when they return home from school?

Short Answer

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

1. After AP Government, what hint does Solo give that he is not really committed to being friends with Riley?

2. What event in Riley’s life seemed to create a distance between them and their former friend, Derek Yu?

3. What characteristics and behaviors of Bec’s hint that she will be understanding about Riley’s gender dysphoria?

4. What causes Riley to panic and decide they cannot face going to their father’s campaign event?

Paired Resource

“‘Gender Fluidity’: The Ever-Shifting Shape of Identity”

• This BBC News article features the personal experiences of Carla Hernando, a nonbinary Spaniard, as they navigate the complex territory of gender expression.
• This resource relates to the theme of Gender Identity & Fluidity.
• How are Carla’s experiences like and unlike Riley’s? How might age be a factor in the differences you notice? What personal characteristics and family circumstances of Riley’s might also make their experience different from Carla’s? What advice do you imagine Carla might offer Riley?

“Exploring the History of Gender Expression”

• This article from the University of California publication Link explains some of the many examples of nonbinary gender expression recognized in cultures around the globe.
• This resource relates to the theme of Gender Identity & Fluidity.
• Did any of these examples of nonbinary gender expression surprise you? How does knowing the long history of nonbinary gender expression around the world impact the way you see Riley’s situation at school and at home?

CHAPTERS 9-16

Reading Check

1. Who stands up for Riley at lunchtime when Jim threatens them?

2. After the argument about skipping school, what does Riley’s father take away as a punishment?

3. What inappropriate question does a blog reader ask Riley that Riley then uses as an opportunity to educate their readers?

4. What opportunity to work for a cause is Riley offered because of their blog?

Short Answer

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

1. When Riley arrives at Bec’s house, what does Bec tell them about Erik and the football team?

2. When Solo and Riley are at the arcade, what advice does Solo give Riley?

3. At the end of their session, what advice does Dr. Ann give Riley?

4. When Riley runs into Sierra doing some peer tutoring in the library, what does Riley notice about Sierra’s arm?

Paired Resource

“The Importance of Social Media When It Comes to LGBTQ Kids Feeling Seen”

• The Washington Post offers this article that explores the reasons that social media plays an important role in the lives of many LGBTQ+ young people.
• This resource relates to the themes of Online Community/Harassment and Mental Health.
• What beneficial effects and potential drawbacks of social media does this article discuss? How do you see these effects in Riley’s experiences? On the whole, the article says that there are more benefits than drawbacks for LGBTQ+ young people; do you agree that Riley’s blog has more benefits than drawbacks for Riley? What about for Riley’s readers?

The Trevor Project

• This resource page from the highly regarded nonprofit The Trevor Project seeks to promote health and awareness for LGBTQ+ young people. (Teacher-appropriate; not student-facing: Because the site is extensive and covers topics that might be considered controversial in some homes, it is offered here as a teacher-appropriate resource that might be selectively offered to students who express curiosity about online resources.)
• This resource relates to the themes of Online Community/Harassment and Mental Health.

CHAPTERS 17-24

Reading Check

1. What is Bec’s band called?

2. When Bec insists that Solo come to a club with her and Riley, what club does she mean?

3. What does Mike/Michelle realize about Riley because of the way Riley talks?

4. Which teacher intervenes when Jim and Sierra are harassing Bec and Riley at the football game?

Short Answer

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

1. How does Riley feel when they realize that Bec has brought them to a support group meeting?

2. How do Riley’s feelings about coming out begin to change after their experiences with the blog and Andie?

3. When Riley spends time with their father after his Washington trip, what makes it clear that the opinions of other people are a big part of his difficulty accepting Riley’s gender presentation?

4. While they are watching a movie together, what does Bec finally reveal to Riley about her family life?

Paired Resource

“Parent-Child Role Reversal”

• This article discusses the problem of parentification and its long-term impacts on children.
• This resource relates to the theme of Mental Health.
• In what sense is Bec experiencing parentification? What impacts does her home situation have on her health, happiness, and opportunities? Do you think that she is getting enough of the kinds of support this article talks about?

CHAPTERS 25-29

Reading Check

1. What object does Riley destroy after reading the anonymous bully’s messages?

2. What object does Dr. Ann compare Riley to during their emergency appointment?

3. When Riley finally comes out to their parents and tries to explain about the blog, what is Riley’s father’s main concern?

4. Where does Riley first see the green pickup truck?

Short Answer

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

1. What is especially upsetting about the additional messages the anonymous bully sends to Riley?

2. What does Dr. Ann urge Riley to do in order to cope with the pressure they are under?

3. What does Riley realize when they see what has been done to their locker at school?

4. What happens after Riley is knocked unconscious at the abandoned building?

Paired Resource

“LGBT People Nine Times More Likely Than Non-LGBT People to Be Victims of Violent Hate Crimes”

• This factsheet from the UCLA School of Law details the prevalence of hate crimes against LGBTQ+ Americans.
• This resource relates to the themes of Gender Identity & Fluidity, Mental Health, and Online Community/Harassment.
• Why is what Jim Vickers and his friends do to Riley both a sexual assault and a hate crime? Based on this article and on your knowledge of Riley’s character, what do you predict Riley’s reaction to this assault might be?

CHAPTERS 30-36

Reading Check

1. What personal item does Solo try to give Riley to comfort them in the aftermath of the attack?

2. What does Bec change about her appearance as a result of her emotional turmoil following the attack on Riley?

3. On Riley’s first day back at school, whom do they realize is probably responsible for the anonymous hate messages sent to their blog?

4. Who alerted the media to the fact that Riley would be speaking at the Trans Health Con?

Short Answer

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

1. What feelings of guilt does Riley struggle with after the assault?

2. Why does Bec feel guilty about the assault on Riley?

3. What does Riley tell Dr. Ann their mother is disappointed about as she comes to terms with Riley’s gender fluidity?

4. Why do Riley’s parents try to discourage them from speaking at the Trans Health Con?

Recommended Next Reads

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

• In this YA romance, Felix Love, a poor Black trans youth, struggles to feel worthy of love and to overcome bullying and questions about his own identity. Throughout the novel, Felix’s understanding of himself and the people around him grows until he is finally able to accept the truth that he has fallen deeply in love—with his own best friend, Ezra.
• Shared themes include Gender Identity & Fluidity and Online Community/Harassment.
• Shared elements include first-person LGBTQ+ narrator, bullying at school, coming out, the struggle for parental acceptance, finding one’s artistic voice, realistic fiction, and romance.  
• Felix Ever After on SuperSummary

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

• After Ben comes out to their parents as nonbinary, their parents’ rejection results in Ben having to go live with their sister and a brother-in-law they have never met. Ben hopes to fade into the background at their new school, but a budding romance with the charismatic Nathan Allen makes this unlikely.
• Shared themes include Gender Identity & Fluidity and Mental Health.
• Shared elements include first-person nonbinary narrator, anxiety disorder, coming out, the struggle for parental acceptance, learning to live authentically, realistic fiction, and romance.