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1. Discuss why the narrator of the book has chosen this time to tell his story.

The narrator has terminal cancer. He is the only one who knows a terrible secret, and he wants to relieve his conscience before he dies.

2. Explain the narrator's vocation and how it affects his telling of the story.

The narrator is a historian of America's Second Civil War. He has studied thousands of documents which give him a vast and educated overview of the entire war. His knowledge also helps him understand the role his confidante played.

3. How did Sarat's name come to be?

In kindergarten, the teacher had accidentally attached the middle initial T to Sara's name. The girl liked the sound of Sarat since it had a bite to it and sounded like a bear trap springing shut.

4. What is the significance of the Statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe?

The statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe is a relic of Sarat's father's childhood. It has always stood in their house and is the one object that Sarat carries with her when they flee to the refugee camp.

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