1. Hall's novels often feature young people who share significant adult responsibilities with their parents. For example, in A Killing Freeze, Clarie helps run the Winter Fest and helps in her father's business. She takes pride in contributing to their welfare. Find other such characters in other novels by Hall. What do these characters have in common? Do any of them differ in important ways? How do these characters help us to understand some of Hall's purposes in her fiction?

2. What are snowmobiles? How can a person tell a good snowmobile from a bad one? What are snowmobiles used for?

3. One way books appeal to young readers is by showing a main character learning to take control of some aspect of his or her life. For example, in Island of the Blue Dolphins (by Scott O'Dell, 1960), the main character learns how...