Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What does the phrase “less is more” mean to you? How could a writer use the “less is more” suggestion to apply to their writing?

Teaching Suggestion: “Less is more” applies to the writing style of this novel. The author chooses to write this novel in the form of short poetic vignettes, paring away unnecessary details and action to access the characters’ full depth of emotion. Consider reading the first chapter of the book, “A Tin Roof,” as a class and investigating which details the author chooses to leave in and which she leaves out.

• This 4-minute video explains how skilled writers include the most powerful details to appeal to the reader’s emotions and senses.
• “Can You Tell Your Life Story In Exactly Six Words?” from NPR gives several examples of very brief memoirs from notable figures.

2. List all of the facts you already know about human trafficking. Consider both locally and worldwide.

Teaching Suggestion: This novel centers around a girl who is sold into sex slavery.