1. The 1960s were a time of upheaval in American families; the divorce rate soared as people examined their relationships in terms of the happiness and fulfillment they provided. Why did this change take place? Was there a change in society's attitude toward concepts such as responsibility and commitment?

2. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, camps such as the Girl Guides' Camp Shelter were extremely popular with campers and parents alike. Why did these camps appeal to each group?

3. Observing that Shelter is set in the summer and fall immediately preceding the assassination of John F. Kennedy, reviewers immediately pointed out the parallel between the girls' initiation into adult evil and America's loss of innocence with the death of President Kennedy. Do you think Phillips intended the girls' experience to be interpreted in this way? Is the symbolism too subtle? Too obvious?

4. Mrs. Thompson-Warner presides over...