1. David is with the Nafiche family only a few months; yet, he leaves a permanent mark on the lives of the Nafiches and on Henry. Why does he have such an enduring effect on them?

2. David has survived the Holocaust through fortitude and grit. He is the only member of his family still alive after the War. Now, he is determined to kill himself. Why does he wish to do so?

3. Jonathan changes much about his life after David's arrival in order to help give David constant supervision.

What does this reveal about Jonathan?

4. When David runs over a cat with the car and severely wounds it, Henry kills the cat with a club. Why does Henry do this when he was not the one who wounded it?

5. Jonathan is especially fond of inventing parables to enliven his discussions. Do you find these parables...