How is the novel’s depiction of Mennonite culture inherently critical of authority? What does the novel mean in its depiction of religious authority and the harm it causes?

How does Ray’s abandonment of his daughter exemplify the novel’s exploration of the complicated nature of kindness?

Mr. Quiring claims that institutions are the root of the world’s ills, which Nomi disagrees with. What is the novel saying about the relationship between personal agency and institutional power?