1. Even though Jody's family ties would seem likely to make him very much a part of his community, he is essentially a rebel and misfit. What advantage does his position as an outsider give him in seeing and evaluating his community's taboos?

2. Does Jody bring some of his problems upon himself? Short of completely abandoning his principles, how could he have avoided some of the conflicts he encounters?

3. Why is Jody able to survive his ascent into Isis's interior high country?

Which of these factors also will eventually make him a good leader for the colonists?

4. Why is Jody the only character capable of saving the settlement? Aside from the physical limitations of the other characters, does Hughes have a thematic reason for creating a problem only Jody can solve?

5. Why does Hughes create a central character who is twelve years old?

How would...