Chapter 1
Who is the main character in Promises to Keep?
Tyray Hobbs
What school does Tyray attend?
Bluford High School
What is one major consequence Tyray faces because of his past behavior?
He has lost the respect and trust of many people around him.
Who is Warren?
Warren is Tyray's older brother.
What is one thing Tyray desperately wants from the people around him?
He wants acceptance, understanding, and a chance to prove that he can change.
Who is Tyray's father?
Gil Hobbs
How do some students at school treat Tyray because of his past?
They tease, taunt, or make fun of him because they remember how he treated other students.
Why is Tyray's relationship with his family difficult?
His parents are disappointed in his behavior and are concerned about the choices he is making.
Where is Warren?
Warren is in prison.
Why is trust an important issue for Tyray?
His past behavior has caused people to lose trust in him, so he must work to rebuild relationships.
Why is Tyray's father angry and concerned about him?
Tyray has caused trouble in the past, and his father is afraid that Tyray will make the same kinds of mistakes his older brother Warren made.
Why does Tyray have difficulty escaping his old reputation?
Other students remember his past actions and continue to judge him based on what he did before.
What does Tyray want other people to understand about him?
He wants them to see that he can change and become a better person.
Why is Warren important to Tyray's story?
Warren's mistakes and situation serve as a warning to Tyray about what can happen when a person makes destructive choices.
How does Tyray's past affect his relationships with other people?
People remember what he has done, making it difficult for them to trust or accept him.
What is one major problem Tyray must face at the beginning of the story?
He must deal with the consequences of his past behavior and the reputation he has created for himself.
Tyray wants to change, but other people continue to treat him like the person he used to be. What type of conflict does this situation represent?
Character vs. society, because Tyray is struggling against the attitudes and judgments of the people around him.
When Tyray struggles with the pressure and expectations placed on him by his family, what type of conflict can this create?
Character vs. society and/or character vs. self, depending on whether the focus is on outside expectations or Tyray's internal struggle.
What does Tyray want his mother to do concerning Warren?
He asks her to visit Warren in prison.
When Tyray faces another person who challenges, threatens, or opposes him, what type of conflict is this?
Character vs. character (external conflict).
What type of conflict occurs when Tyray struggles with his own thoughts, emotions, guilt, and choices?
Character vs. self (internal conflict).
What can readers infer about Tyray from his reaction to the way people treat him at school?
He is frustrated and hurt by his reputation and wants an opportunity to change how others see him.
How does Tyray's past continue to affect his present life?
His past actions affect his relationships, reputation, family life, and the way other people treat him.
Tyray is worried that he could end up following Warren's path. What type of conflict is Tyray experiencing when he struggles with this fear and his own choices?
Character vs. self (internal conflict).
Which theme is best supported by Tyray's struggles in Chapters 1–5: A) People can never change, B) Choices have consequences, C) Winning is everything, or D) School is unimportant?
B) Choices have consequences.