Two Can Keep a Secret

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

ACTIVITY 1: “True Crime Podcast”

In this activity, students will choose a perspective and topic and create a podcast based on events in the novel.

Ellery is extremely interested in true crime; she believes her interest stems from her aunt’s murder before Ellery was born. In the novel, Ellery and the other characters live out a true crime. Choose a perspective below. Craft a true crime podcast from that perspective.

Perspectives: A character in the novel ten years later; a person fascinated with true crime who is traveling through town and visiting Fright Farm; a news reporter covering the recent events; another perspective of your choice (obtain prior approval from instructor)

• Choose a perspective for the podcast.
• Review scenes and details from the novel that affect that perspective.
• Brainstorm ideas for the topics of your podcast.
• Write a draft.
• Revise.
• Record or prepare to present.

Present your podcast. As others perform or play back their podcasts, note comments and questions you have regarding other perspectives. Discuss how the podcasts changed your understanding of the novel.

Teaching Suggestion: Students might already be familiar with podcasts. It could be helpful to listen to one or more podcasts, especially one that represent different perspectives and styles, to provide students with examples. Depending on time and availability of equipment, this activity could take various forms. Students could write out their podcast, record the audio, record video, or present live to the class. This activity challenges students to include creative writing skills as they speak from perspectives different from their own; it may be beneficial to review steps of the writing process. As students begin, it could be helpful to revisit key scenes and discuss point of view and voice, including how characters’ voices develop to be distinctive. This understanding can help students develop their podcasts from voices different from their own. This activity can link to themes of The Lingering Effects of Violence or The Need to Confess Secrets.

ACTIVITY 2: “Fright Farm”

In this activity, students will create a representation of Fright Farm using details and symbolism.

Fright Farm provides a terrifying backdrop to the murders in the story. Create a representation of Fright Farm using details from the novel and symbolism for key characters, events, and ideas. Feel free to incorporate surrounding areas of the setting.

• Review the previous name of Fright Farm and what led to changing the name of the park.
• Re-read key scenes that include Fright Farm, noting details the novel builds regarding  appearance, layout, activities, and the ways in which characters interact with the park.
• Sketch your project and list ways to include both specific details from the novel and symbolism that builds large ideas about the characters, themes, and more.
• Decide on your format for your final project. Consider collage, painting, video, a 3D model, or other rendering.
• Create your project.
• Display your projects in class.  Journal about the setting’s effectiveness  in the novel with regard to tone and atmosphere.

Teaching Suggestion: Reviewing the short activity from the pre-reading section could offer students a way into this activity. It could be beneficial to review symbolism and discuss some ways to represent ideas in the novel symbolically. If time allows, students could present their projects before displaying them. A gallery walk would be one way to share.

Differentiation Suggestion: For advanced students and students who would benefit from additional writing, consider expanding this activity to an analysis essay on the significance of Fright Farm to the story’s setting, tone, theme, or symbolism. The journal topic could become a polished essay.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The narration shifts between Ellery’s and Malcolm’s perspective.

• What is the effect in this novel of switching narrative perspectives? (topic sentence)
• Consider and choose for your discussion at least 3 effective viewpoint switches that impact the reader’s experience. As you craft your essay, include quotations and other details from the novel to support your ideas.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, explain the effect of first-person narration rather than third-person.

2. The novel revolves around old and more recent murders.

• What message does the novel illuminate about The Lingering Effects of Violence? (topic sentence)
• How do different characters respond to the lasting effects of violence? What plot events are triggered by it? Choose the 3 strongest examples of plot events or character actions to analyze and discuss. As you write your response, incorporate direct quotations and additional details to develop your argument.
• In your conclusion, explain with rationale whether the ending suggests more trauma or more hope.

3. The end of the novel offers some but not complete resolution.

• What do unanswered questions at the end of the novel suggest about the theme of The Need to Confess Secrets? (topic sentence)
• As you craft your essay, include at least 3 quotations and other specifics that support your analysis.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, determine which unanswered question most effectively conveys meaning; provide rationale.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. A red herring is a clue in a mystery that is meant to lead the reader down the wrong path. How do red herrings affect this novel? Which are especially effective? How do they affect the pacing and mood? In a 3- or 5-paragraph essay, analyze the ways in which red herrings affect the story and illuminate the characters.

2. Consider the motif of echoes in the novel. How do parallels in the novel work to build themes? How do Malcolm and Ellery face mirrored trauma? How do the current murders echo the past? What other moments or characters mirror something? Write a 3- or 5-paragraph essay analyzing how echoes reverberate through the novel and help to develop the themes of The Lingering Effects of Violence, The Need to Confess Secrets, or another major idea.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which phrase best describes Ezra’s and Ellery’s relationship as twins?

A) Estranged and harsh

B) Close and supportive

C) Overwhelming and controlling

D) Parallel and unconnected

2. How is the relationship between Mia and her sister similar to the relationship between Malcolm and his brother?

A) During most of the novel, both pairs of siblings are close, but then they begin fighting regularly.

B) Until Ellery interrupts them, the two pairs will not stop focusing on and trying to solve the murders in town.

C) In the beginning, the siblings talk frequently but bicker often; later, they talk less but treat each other with more kindness.

D) For a long time, both sets of siblings are distant because of the past and do not share openly; then they get closer.

3. Why does the town rename the adventure park?

A) Lacey is found murdered at the park.

B) Ellery convinces them to do so.

C) Malcolm and Brooke win a naming contest.

D) Peter pays them to change it.

4. What literary device is employed in this quotation?

“Nice isn’t the right word. Sadie Corcoran was like this bolt of energy that swept through town and electrified everybody, even in the middle of mourning. I got the sense that she considered Echo Ridge one big stage, but I didn’t mind watching the performance. We all needed the distraction.” (Chapter 7)

A) Metaphor

B) Personification

C) Irony

D) Foreshadowing

5. Which of the following pairs of characters contribute most to the motif of echoes?

A) Sadie and Brooke

B) Ellery and Sarah

C) Malcolm and Peter

D) Viv and Nana

6. How do Ezra and Ellery react differently to Malcolm when they first learn of Brooke’s disappearance?

A) Ezra blames Malcolm immediately, and Ellery tries not to.

B) Ezra wonders about Malcolm’s innocence aloud, while Ellery wonders silently.

C) Ezra jokes about Malcolm’s innocence, and Ellery remains serious.

D) Ezra assumes Malcolm’s innocence, while Ellery has suspicions.

7. When they find the receipt, what does it lead Ellery, Ezra, Malcolm, and Mia to believe?

A) Ryan murdered Sarah and sold his car to cover it up.

B) Viv caused the homecoming threats to drive sales of her article.

C) Katrin and Brooke are connected to Mr. Bowman’s death.

D) Sadie and Sarah were together the night Sadie disappeared.

8. What brings Malcolm and his brother closer together?

A) Nana inviting them for dinner

B) Peter and their mother marrying

C) Malcolm being suspected of murder

D) Ellery and Mia leading an intervention

9. How does Ellery discover who her father is?

A) Ellery sees a picture of him at a young age, and he looks like her brother.

B) Ezra completes a genetic test and finds him, then introduces him to her.

C) Nana discovers a journal of Sadie’s, which reveals his identity.

D) Sadie accidentally texts Ellery instead of the man, unveiling who he is.

10. What plot point best develops the theme of The Need to Confess Secrets?

A) Nana insisting on picking up the twins

B) Ellery viewing Ryan as a suspect

C) Viv writing the articles

D) Brooke trying to pick the lock

11. How do Ellery’s feelings about her family shift by the end of the novel?

A) Ellery decides she cannot rely on her extended family anymore.

B) Ellery realizes her mother’s lies are unforgivable and shuts her out of her life.

C) Ellery opens up to the possibility of being closer to her expanding family.

D) Ellery starts to doubt her brother’s compassion and distances herself from him.

12. Which of the following clues is a red herring?

A) The receipt from recycling

B) Brooke’s disappearance

C) Officer Rodriguez dropping the coffee cup

D) Malcolm distrusting his step-father

13. Which statement best describes the reason for Ellery missing the real culprit for so long?

A) She focuses on the mystery and each suspect solely on their role instead of seeing the bigger picture.

B) She instinctively trusts everyone, having learned to see the good in people from her mother.

C) Ezra and Malcolm keep the truth from her, not wanting her to get in the way of their plans.

D) Nana sets strict rules and refuses to allow her to conduct an investigation like she wants to.

14. How does Ryan save Ellery and Malcolm?

A) Ryan is on a stakeout at the Nilssons’ the night of Homecoming; he sees Peter hit Malcolm and charges in to distract him while they escape.

B) Ryan gets a cryptic call from Brooke, which he traces to the Nilssons’ landline; he happens to arrive during the confrontation.

C) Ryan calls Malcolm just as Malcolm’s phone is dropped; Ryan hears the threats, traces the phone’s location, and rushes to save them.

D) Ryan is already investigating the Nilssons’ involvement in the car receipt, and Ellery texts “P” to Ryan; when her grandmother claims she is at the Nilssons, he races there.

15. Why does Ellery keep what Peter told her in the basement a secret?

A) Ellery is protecting her mother from additional guilt over her sister’s death.

B) Ellery hopes to use the surprise against Peter during the upcoming trial.

C) Ezra convinces Ellery that Nana cannot handle learning this fact.

D) Ryan calls right as Ellery is about to share and reveals a different truth.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. What leads to Ellery and Ezra moving to Echo Ridge? How does this location contribute to the echo motif?

2. What is Ellery hopeful about at the end of the novel?