Does the ending of the novel reaffirm Cass’s loss of faith in institutions and authority figures, or does it offer a path to freedom? Why or why not? How might the Epilogue change your understanding of the novel’s end?

To what extent is Cass a reliable narrator? How does her interpretation of events force the reader to identify differences between what is shown and what is told? Consider and unpack the extent to which the adult narrator injects herself into the narrative.

The text employs conventions of several genres. What does an analysis of this novel gain by classifying it as a psychological thriller, YA novel, historical fiction, or any other genre that you think is more accurate? What does it lose if it is analyzed only through one genre’s lens, and what is the benefit of telling this story through a combination of genres?