Examine the role of family in the novel. How is each member of Nate’s family characterized? How do they support Nate? What are their specific reactions to Uncle Beazley? How might Nate’s concept of family change throughout the novel?

The novel was written in the 1950s, during the United States’ Cold War against the Soviet Union. How do the themes and anxieties from this time period manifest in the novel? Does the novel have a political message? If so, what is it?

For most of the novel, Nate is out of school on summer vacation. What examples of education can be found in the text? Are there specific characters that serve in an educational role? Does learning always need to take place in school?