Consider the novel’s theme of Loneliness and Loss. Which of the characters experience loneliness in the novel and to what extent? How do the characters each experience loss when they taste the litmus lozenges? How do the characters experience healing?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial for students to create a list of the characters in the novel to refer to as they answer questions. Consider encouraging students to analyze characters that have a minor role in the novel such as Litmus Block, Sweetie Pie, and Amanda. It could be helpful to choose a character that students are unlikely to choose themselves and model answering the questions for them.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners, students who may benefit from a more structured or visual approach, and students with executive function differences, consider asking students to organize their analysis into three columns using (loneliness/loss/healing). It may be helpful for students to be assigned to one character to share with other students in the form of a jigsaw.