I don't understand these directions !?

Think of it this way if you just retell the story line it is not an essay it is a book report. The kind of essay you are required to do is give a small summery of the book and find a part that you have a thought or idea that you can agree with or not agree with and using quotes from the book expound on your mindset of that part of the book. The short summery is for letting the teacher know that you have read the book in its entirety. Do not use Time and Age for a title this essay is about critical thinking on your part.