Miss Bowzer tells her that the citizens of Coal Harbour resent Primrose’s mother for sailing into the typhoon to rescue Primrose’s dad, which Miss Bowzer describes as an act of true love. Why do the citizens of Coal Harbour resent Primrose’s mother? Why does Primrose receive backlash for her mother’s actions?

Primrose’s mother calls her brother “hotfoot Jack” and says he is a drifter. How accurate does Primrose find that description? What frustrates Primrose about her uncle? Why is Uncle Jack so insistent that Primrose remain with him? Who wants Primrose out of Uncle Jack’s custody, and why?

When Sheriff Peters shows Primrose her mother’s raincoat (macintosh), he expects her to express grief and acknowledge the probability that her mother drowned in the typhoon. What is Primrose’s reaction?