The author indirectly characterizes young Emika before her father’s death through flashbacks and recorded Memories that play in Emika’s Memory Worlds. Describe young Emika in two to three specific character traits based on evidence from these flashbacks and Memories. Then, juxtapose these characteristics with two to three traits displayed by Emika after her father’s death. Support your choices with text evidence.

Like many action/mystery novels, Warcross offers several plot twists intended to keep readers guessing about what happens next. Select two to three strong plot twists that change the direction of Emika’s objective or change one of Emika’s long-standing opinions. Discuss how the next several plot events hinge on the selected twists.

Emika lives in a near-future New York City different from modern times. What imagery or setting elements suggest a dystopian atmosphere? Conversely, what setting details and imagery provide Warcross levels with a utopian atmosphere? How might a reader label the setting of Tokyo—more dystopian, or more utopian? Discuss your responses with text evidence for each part of the question.