1. Blackwood's skillful use of similes and metaphors in Timothy's interior monologues defines Timothy's view of everyday life in Elmira. Find examples in the novel and discuss their significance.

2. Why did Timothy wear the broken watch?

3. Timothy used his paperback copy of Lord of the Flies in several ways.

What were they?

4. Timothy's parents never asked him what he did during his three weeks in the wilderness. Why? What did they do instead? How do their actions reflect their characters?

5. Occasionally Timothy remembered just enough from his reading to frighten himself. He knew sharks were attracted to blood. Were bears? Give other examples of half-remembered knowledge. What do these examples suggest about the relationship of book learning to practical experience?

6. Although he is unfavorably compared with his brother Kevin, Timothy does not dislike him. What does Kevin do to make the reader like him?

7. Belonging...