Why do you think the author chooses to make the parents mostly absent from the pages of this novel and how does their absence impact the characters’ autonomy? Explain

For much of the narrative, Will's mother and father appear very little, coming into the action only at points when Will wants to complain about how little they're disciplining Tabitha and/or protecting him from her. In the book's latter third, however, Will's father plays a more significant role, functioning as Will's coach for the chess tournament he enters. Subsequently, both parents (but particularly Will's mom) play important roles in the transformation of his feelings about Tabby. In general, they are portrayed as loving, mostly free spirited but sometimes firm non-disciplinarians who are ultimately unconditionally there when their children need them.

BT's dad is also something of a free spirit - in fact, as much of a free spirit as his son. Unpredictable, spontaneous, and therefore seeming to be a lot of fun, he is something of a father figure, offering somewhat unlikely hints of perhaps unexpected wisdom to Will in times of doubt and uncertainty. His influence disappears from Will's life, and therefore from the narrative, just as it (that influence) is becoming both interesting and valuable - a structural decision that can be seen as making room for the influence of Will's real parents.