One of the most important relationships in Clementine is between Clementine and her friend Margaret. How does Margaret’s character illuminate Clementine’s personality? Analyze their relationship and how it changes over the course of the book, using specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

As the novel progresses, Clementine talks more and more about her cat Polka Dottie who died. What does Clementine’s increased openness reveal about her character development? What does the novel show about how younger children process grief?

Names are a very important part of Clementine’s life—her own name, her brother’s name, names of adults, and getting to name things. How do names function in the novel and reflect their subjects? What does Clementine’s zeal for naming things reveal about her character?