Bastard Out of Carolina
by Dorothy Allison
About_
This study guide accompanies Dorothy Allison’s novel Bastard Out of Carolina, which follows young Bone
Boatwright as she grows up in a poor, tight-knit South Carolina family while enduring the abuse of her stepfather,
Glen. The guide is organized into seven chapter sections, each covering three to four chapters of the novel and
following Bone’s development from early childhood through adolescence. Alongside comprehension and analysis
questions, the guide includes a crossword puzzle and a character study focused on Bone herself. This study guide
contains 91 questions across 7 chapter sections (70 Factual + 21 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1
Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 7 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (70 total), 7 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (21 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 11-12 (AP/college-prep level, due to mature themes of abuse and violence)
Teacher Note_
This novel deals with difficult, sensitive material, and this guide is designed to help students engage thoughtfully
and critically rather than superficially. The factual questions build a clear foundation of plot and character
comprehension, while the critical questions invite deeper discussion about family, trauma, and identity. We hope
this resource saves you preparation time while giving your students a meaningful framework for discussing a
challenging but important text.