Each character involved in the heist has a special connection to the theme of The Search for Home. Their emotions and desires regarding the meaning of “home” affect their personal motivations in the mission. In what way does each member of the group relate to the theme? To what extent do each character’s feelings about “home” affect their choices prior, during, and after the mission? Do any particular characters have comparable or contrasting motivations? How so?

As you formulate your response, it may be helpful to consider the following points:

• How might Vengeance be a key component in their motivations? How might this theme and The Search for Home go hand in hand?
• The theme What Makes a Monster implies that the characters’ views of each other are complex and differ from protagonist to protagonist. How is this depicted in the novel?

Teaching Suggestion: As there are six different heist members to consider, it may be beneficial to create student groups and assign each group one character on which to focus. Then, after they collect their points of support, students might come together in a class discussion or Socratic seminar. As they are discussing, students may take notes on the different viewpoints they hear, or you may assign a student to write on the display or board as a class notetaker, recording the ideas in the discussion for everyone.