What does James learn about himself through finding out about his mother's past? What do we learn about ourselves by understanding more about our parents?

Education is very important to Ruth. How would her family have turned out differently if she'd had different priorities? For example, how would her children turned out differently if obtaining wealth was her priority?

James states, "The image of her [Ruth] riding that bicycle typified her whole existence to me." What image typifies James's existence?

How does race affect a person's identity? How does James reconcile his mixed race identity?

Ruth thinks that Dee-Dee didn't have any problems as a teenager because she was pretty and likeable, but later on James thinks life must have been awful for Dee-Dee at that time. Why is it difficult for people to understand what others are going through until much time has...