Ada copes with Mam’s abuse by going away inside her own head. At first, she takes herself to nowhere in particular, but after meeting Butter, she quickly makes the pony the focus of her mental escapes. Why does she focus on Butter in this way?

The theme of lying is explored from various angles in this novel. Which lies does Ada tell that are okay? What circumstances make those lies okay?

In what ways does Susan save Ada and Jamie, and in what ways do Ada and Jamie save Susan?