Analyze the role that Petra plays in her family. What specific pressures does she face as a young girl and the eldest daughter given the cultural and historical context of the novel?

Describe Dobbs’s narrative tone and writing style. In what ways does her distinctive style inform the story’s characters, themes, and setting? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Explore the role of grief in Dobbs’s novel. Which character(s) experience grief, and why? What events trigger their grief, and how do they manage it? Use examples from the text as support.