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.

“Alternate Histories”

In this activity, students will plot an alternate ending to the novel and discuss how these changes impact the reader.

Natasha and Daniel spend part of their day discussing the possibility of The Multiverse and Alternative Histories. Infinite possibilities open up based on every decision made! In this activity, you will plot out an alternate ending to the novel to represent Natasha and Daniel’s own alternative history.

Part A

Choose one of the events below as a “starting point” to diverge from the original story:

• Natasha refuses to get coffee with Daniel after he saves her life.
• Daniel does not ask for a “redo” and leaves Natasha outside his parents’ store.
• Daniel is terrible at karaoke, and Natasha is unimpressed.
• Jeremy Fitzgerald gets the voluntary removal reversed.

Part B

Trade your plotted ending with a peer, then answer the following questions:

• How does this alternate history impact the reader?
• How do you feel about Daniel and Natasha in this version?
• Does this version change the meaning of the work as a whole? If so, how?

Teaching Suggestion: After students have discussed their alternate histories with their peers, it might be helpful to debrief this activity in a whole-group setting.