Ann Napolitano ends the novel with several plot elements unresolved. Why do you think she chose to end the novel this way? Explain.

Examine the novel from a feminist lens. What does the novel say about the expectations on the McLaughlin girls and women? How have these expectations changed over the generations?

The novel explores race briefly in the background of Noreen Ballen and her decision to marry Eddie Ortiz. How does the novel depict the racial dynamics? How do the racial dynamics in the novel reflect the ones in American history?