Throughout the novel, we see age and maturity affecting characters' behavior with each other. Compare the dynamics of age in the relationship between Polly and Max with the same dynamics in the relationship between Polly and Renny.

Zachary is so influenced by Polly that he decides to forsake the world of power and influence that he is poised to enter. Do you find his about-face convincing? Why or why not?

Ultimately, Zachary leaves Polly cold, particularly when she compares him to Renny and to Omio. What do Renny and Omio share that Zachary lacks in Polly's eyes?

The question of Max's sexuality certainly enters into the thematic content of the novel. How do you interpret L'Engle's rendering of the issue? Is it relevant that Max is a lesbian in the central tension of the novel? Why or why not?

Polly's parents trust her so...