Question

Star-Crossed
by Loren Baily

A teenage boy got out of the car and slammed the door shut. Reid didn’t know him, but he wore what Reid recognized as their school’s letterman jacket for football.

“Hey, Alyssa,” the guy called to her with a smirk.

Alyssa didn’t even turn to him as she waved a hand and said back, “Austin.”

They kept walking toward her house, but Reid could tell when Austin noticed his eyes bythe way he froze where he stood.

“Is that a droid?” he shouted. “What the—”

“Keep your voice down!” Alyssa snapped.Reid noticed her glancing around, as if she was worried about neighbors hearing there was anandroid with her. She hadn’t seemed concerned about that before, but now he wondered if she was.

Austin stalked across the grass of their two yards. He didn’t even acknowledge Reid as he glared at Alyssa. “You’re bringing one of them to your house? So, what, you’re into droids now?”

Reid tensed as Austin said the offensive name for androids—for the second time now—but Alyssa stepped in before he could say anything. “Oh, shut up,” she said. “We’re working on a class project together.”

Austin apparently didn’t have anything to say to that, so he turned his attention back to Reid, sizing him up. Reid returned the glare.

Austin crossed his arms then. “Your stepdad is gonna love this,” he said. He looked at Alyssa again, his eyes darting up and down. “I’ll be out in the back if you need anything.”

She snorted. “I think we’ll be fine. Let’s go, Reid.” Then she grabbed his wrist and tugged him to follow her inside.

As they passed through the front door, Reid glanced behind him to see Austin stomping off. “Nice neighbor,” he said.

Alyssa rolled her eyes at him. “We grew up together,” she said. “He’s just . . . protective of me.”

“He likes you.”

“Yeah, well, he’s an idiot.” They stopped in the front hall, and Alyssa looked up at him. “I’m sorry he called you that.”

Reid shrugged. “It’s not the first time I’ve heard it. Won’t be the last, either.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s okay.”



"“Star-Crossed” by Loren Bailey
Text copyright © 2019 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
Reprinted with the permission of Darby Creek, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. All
rights reserved. No part of this text excerpt may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc."

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.

In 3–5 sentences, analyze how Star-Crossed uses archetypes from classical literature to create characters that can be universally understood by today’s readers.

(4 points)
grade 6

Answer 1

The title and situation call to mind the “star-crossed” lovers archetype from classical literature, suggesting a forbidden or difficult relationship that readers immediately recognize. Reid fits the outsider/other archetype—like a tragic or sympathetic hero—so readers quickly feel empathy for him when he is insulted. Austin acts as the jealous rival/bully archetype, providing clear conflict and social pressure against the relationship. Alyssa plays the loyal mediator who defends Reid, and together these familiar roles let modern readers understand the characters’ motives and the story’s tension without needing a lot of background.