Which Judith Guest novel tells the story of the Jarret family and their life after the death of Buck and the attempted suicide of Con?

• A. The World According to Garp
• B. A Separate Peace
• C. The Great Gatsby
• D. Ordinary People

Answer: (D)

This question is testing your knowledge of which novel centers on the Jarret family dealing with the death of Buck and Con’s suicide attempt. Ordinary People by Judith Guest is the story that follows that exact situation—family grief, guilt, and the healing process as Con undergoes therapy and the parents navigate their own pain and relationship challenges. The other titles are by different authors and revolve around distinct plots: The World According to Garp isn’t about the Jarrets and is more about a writer and his family; A Separate Peace is set at a WWII-era boarding school focusing on two boys’ relationship and coming-of-age; The Great Gatsby explores wealth and society in the Jazz Age. So the book that matches the described family crisis and characters is Ordinary People.