The Mighty Miss Malone is set during the Great Depression, but the characters never discuss the causes, politics, or recovery efforts associated with this long-lasting historical event. Instead, through Deza’s eyes the reader gets a deeply personal view of the time period. What effects of the Great Depression come across most strongly in the novel? What plot events are directly or indirectly caused by it? Use text details to support your answers.

Father’s curious character quirk of using alliteration lends humor to some moments in Deza’s narrative; Deza, Mother, and Jimmie find it a comical and endearing trait. What might Father’s alliteration represent on a more symbolic level? Connect this trait to one or more of Deza’s character traits. Discuss character details from the story to support your ideas.

The chapter titles in The Mighty Miss Malone are sometimes humorous, sometimes rife with deeper meaning, but always very fitting for the main idea of the chapter. Select two or three chapter titles you find especially attention-getting and explain what makes them suitable titles for the contents of the respective chapters.