3. Daniel does not want Mira to equate him with his sister Klara. What is NOT one element he names as a trait of Klara's that he does not want associated with himself?

4. Ruby becomes upset when Daniel tells her that her mother "didn't want to be a real" (232) what?

5. For what physical reason does Ilya tell Klara that she must get as good at magic as men are and then get even better?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what reason does Gertie refuse to allow Klara to be buried in the family plot and which family member has the strongest reaction to her decision?

2. What are the main two emotions Daniel has when thinking about Simon and which emotion does he prefer?

3. How is foreshadowing employed within the passage when Raj tells Klara, "I know they're your family...but if they weren't, you wouldn't like them either" (147)?

4. What action does Daniel decide to take because he sees it as his only way to make an impact on future events?

5. What problem does Klara develop after SImon's death?

6. What kinds of information does Daniel find out about Ruby and Raj when he researches them online the night of their arrival for the Thanksgiving holiday?

7. What is the real reason that Klara refuses the Mirage's entertainment director when he asks her to participate in an act where she will be sawed in half?

8. Why does Klara initially take the elevator to the 45th floor of the Mirage after dropping Ruby off at day care on opening night?

9. What is the secret of Klara's success with the men who are auditioning her for a spot opening for Sigfried and Roy?

10. How are sensory details used by the author to depict the scene when Daniel awakes first on the morning of Thanksgiving?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explicate the theme of family bonds within the novel, particularly in relation to the Gold siblings and their parents. What is the author's message regarding family bonds and how do you know?