How did the secret-keeping that went on in Charlie's family impact him? Why is such a practice damaging?

What is the legacy of abuse in Charlie's family? How could that history have influenced the way his parents raised their children?

What was the significance of what Charlie's parents focuses on - his father was most concerned with his son's football while his mother was most concerned with her son's grades. Why was his father so obsessed with sports?

Why did Mary Elizabeth talk incessantly about herself? What behaviors did she display that indicated she wanted to control her relationships?

What part does low self-esteem play in abuse? Why is it important for a young person to have a good self image?

Why did the author chose to use an epistolary as the method to tell his story? How was it effective? Would another style...