Content Warning: This section refers to the source text’s depiction of grief and trauma, controlling behavior, and domestic violence that results in death.

When Maggie Carlton moves to Lawton, Alabama, she doesn’t see the town as her home. How does her initial discomfort in Lawton convey her sorrow and grief? How does her evolving relationship with the town relate to her personal growth and healing?

Describe Maggie’s relationships with her aunt, uncle, and cousin. Identify specific scenes of dialogue or interaction that capture Maggie’s life with the Higgenses. In what ways do her interactions with her family convey her complex state of mind? How might her regard for her extended family relate to her regard for her late mother and absent father?

Maggie hasn’t spoken since she saw her father kill her mother. Why does she choose silence to cope with her trauma? How does her fear of talking complicate her understanding of herself and her relationships with others? Identify specific examples from Maggie’s home and school life.