1. Is Jeanette a reliable narrator? What does she do to help us trust what she says?

2. What about the manner of her father's death especially troubles Jeanette? How does it motivate her behavior?

3. How does Jeanette separate the truth from her imaginings?

4. Should Jeanette have asked for help from grownups in her search for Lalla?

5. Why was Lalla able to get away with her crimes for as long as she did?

6. Jeanette says that "the most important thing in my life was to find out whether I did right when I killed Bill Hicks."

Was that truly the most important thing in her life? Does she get a definitive answer?

7. Why is Neil reluctant to help Jeanette in her search into Bill's past?

8. Is all the lying that Jeanette and Neil do justified? Are any alternatives to lying available to them?

9. Neil says to...