The Graham Effect Quiz: How Well Do You Know Gigi & Ryder?

Quiz: 20 Questions on The Graham Effect

Think you know every detail of Gigi Graham and Luke Ryder's story? This quiz spans the entire book—from the prologue to the wedding in Vegas. Mix of multiple choice and short answer. Answers and explanations are at the end. No peeking!

Section 1: Plot & Sequence (8 Questions)

1. In the prologue, what does fourteen-year-old Gigi deliberately do to annoy Ryder when he assumes she is a figure skater?

A. She openly laughs at him.
B. She performs figure-skating moves.
C. She tells him her father is Garrett Graham.
D. She challenges him to a race.

2. Why do Gigi and Ryder first agree to help each other?

A. They are forced by Coach Jensen.
B. Gigi needs training; Ryder needs a good word with her father.
C. Case Colson asks them to work together.
D. They lose a bet.

3. Which event forces Gigi and Ryder to attend a charity gala together?

A. A team fundraiser.
B. After a brawl at a party, the team PR team orders them to go.
C. Gigi wins a raffle.
D. Ryder volunteers them.

4. What secret does Ryder reveal to Gigi in Chapter 39 that explains why he hates his birth name, Luke?

A. His father was a criminal.
B. His mother was murdered by his father; he witnessed it.
C. He was bullied for the name as a child.
D. His foster parents forced him to change it.

5. How does Gigi publicly reveal her relationship with Ryder?

A. She posts a photo on social media.
B. She dances with him to her parents’ wedding song at a gala.
C. She tells her father on live TV.
D. She kisses him in the middle of a game.

6. At the women's Frozen Four championship, what accident occurs?

A. Gigi is checked into the boards and lies motionless.
B. Gigi scores the winning goal.
C. Ryder gets into a fight in the stands.
D. The game is cancelled due to snow.

7. What shocking fact does Gigi learn at the New Year’s Eve party in Manhattan?

A. Ryder was engaged before.
B. Ryder and Owen McKay are brothers.
C. Ryder is secretly rich.
D. Case and Emma are together.

8. Why do Ryder and Case end up stranded on a highway with only a knife and a bag of chips?

A. The bus breaks down.
B. They miss the bus after a party.
C. Coach Jensen deliberately leaves them to resolve their conflict.
D. They are kidnapped.

Section 2: Character Motivation (5 Questions)

9. What is Gigi's primary reason for wanting to make Team USA and win Olympic gold?

A. To gain fame.
B. To achieve something her famous father never did.
C. To impress her ex-boyfriend.
D. To earn a contract in the NHL.

10. Why does Ryder initially resist telling Gigi about his past trauma?

A. He thinks she will not care.
B. He is ashamed and emotionally avoids vulnerability.
C. The team contract forbids personal talk.
D. He wants to maintain a friendly rivalry.

11. What motivates Case Colson to try to get back together with Gigi after their breakup?

A. He is jealous of Ryder.
B. He genuinely loves her and regrets cheating.
C. His father pressures him.
D. He needs her father's approval for the NHL draft.

12. Why does Gigi stop hiding her relationship with Ryder at the gala?

A. She learns Case lied about the extent of his cheating.
B. Ryder gives her an ultimatum.
C. Her father orders her to be honest.
D. She wants to make Emma jealous.

13. What is Ryder's primary motivation for seeking the assistant coaching job with Garrett Graham?

A. To get closer to Gigi.
B. To improve his NHL prospects and career.
C. To earn money for his foster family.
D. To repair his reputation after the Worlds suspension.

Section 3: Theme & Symbol (4 Questions)

14. The name “Graham Effect” in the book's title most directly refers to:

A. The pressure of living up to a legendary father's legacy.
B. Gigi's effect on everyone she meets.
C. The financial power of the Graham family.
D. The team merger's impact on the school.

15. Throughout the novel, daisies appear as a recurring gift from Ryder. What do they symbolize?

A. Apologies and fresh starts.
B. National holidays only.
C. Romance and marriage.
D. Hockey superstition.

16. The butterfly conservatory Gigi visits represents:

A. Her love of nature.
B. A private retreat where she feels safe and free from social pressure.
C. A date location for all her relationships.
D. Team building exercises.

17. The merged team's struggle for unity reflects which central theme?

A. The value of competition.
B. The difficulty of overcoming old rivalries to build trust.
C. The danger of super teams.
D. The importance of individual talent.

Section 4: Synthesis (3 Questions)

18. How does Ryder's childhood trauma (witnessing his mother's murder, foster care) directly influence his behavior in the relationship with Gigi? Choose the best answer.

A. It makes him angry all the time.
B. It causes him to avoid emotional intimacy and resist commitment initially.
C. It makes him overprotective of Gigi.
D. It has no real effect on his actions.

19. Gigi's journey from hiding her relationship with Ryder to openly dancing with him at the gala demonstrates growth in what key area?

A. Her skating ability.
B. Her willingness to assert her own choices and defy others' expectations.
C. Her desire to make her father angry.
D. Her loyalty to Case.

20. Which character undergoes the most significant change in their willingness to rely on others for support?

A. Case Colson – from cheat to loyal friend.
B. Gigi Graham – from independent to needy.
C. Luke Ryder – from lone wolf to accepting family and love.
D. Garrett Graham – from distant to overbearing.

Answer Key

1. B – She performs figure-skating moves to annoy him. (Proves her skill and her confidence.)

2. B – Gigi needs training; Ryder needs a good word with her father. (Chapter 10 – their quid pro quo deal.)

3. B – After a brawl at a party, the team PR team orders them to go. (Chapter 13 – mandatory meeting.)

4. B – His mother was murdered by his father; he witnessed it. (Chapter 39 – Ryder shares his deepest trauma.)

5. B – She dances with him to her parents’ wedding song at a gala. (Chapter 41 – public declaration.)

6. A – Gigi is checked into the boards and lies motionless. (Chapter 48 – collision with #28.)

7. B – Ryder and Owen McKay are brothers. (Chapter 43 – Owen's comment reveals the secret.)

8. C – Coach Jensen deliberately leaves them to resolve their conflict. (Chapter 35 – forced isolation on the highway.)

9. B – To achieve something her famous father never did. (Chapter 38 – Gigi admits playing for Team USA is something Garrett never did.)

10. B – He is ashamed and emotionally avoids vulnerability. (Consistent pattern; Chapter 37 shows his struggle.)

11. B – He genuinely loves her and regrets cheating. (Chapter 31 – campfire confession.)

12. A – She learns Case lied about the extent of his cheating. (Chapter 40 – Trager reveals the truth.)

13. B – To improve his NHL prospects and career. (Chapter 1 & 5 – the assistant job opens doors.)

14. A – The pressure of living up to a legendary father's legacy. (Throughout – Gigi deals with being Garrett's daughter.)

15. A – Apologies and fresh starts. (Ryder first gives daisies as a non-apology, then uses them to reconnect.)

16. B – A private retreat where she feels safe and free from social pressure. (Chapter 33 – Gigi's favorite escape.)

17. B – The difficulty of overcoming old rivalries to build trust. (Central to the merged team plot.)

18. B – It causes him to avoid emotional intimacy and resist commitment initially. (He snaps at Gigi, hides his past.)

19. B – Her willingness to assert her own choices and defy others' expectations. (From secret to open, she owns her relationship.)

20. C – Luke Ryder – from lone wolf to accepting family and love. (He goes from deleting voicemails to marrying Gigi.)

Want more? Explore the full book summary or dive into reader questions and answers. Need the ending explained? Click here.