Discuss point of view within the novel. How would the story differ if told completely from Judd's point of view? Why does the author choose to tell the story the way she does, using first person with Judd and third person with everyone else?

Discuss family relationships. Why do you suppose the Mulvaney family fell apart the way it did after what happened to Marianne? Would it have still fallen apart if the father had handled the situation better? What if they had not sent Marianne away? Is it easier to be angry and resentful, than to be happy as Patrick states in the end?

Discuss perception. Do you think the way the Mulvaneys were perceived before and after the rape by the community had a direct relationship to the destruction of the Mulvaney family? How about the way the Mulvaneys viewed each other...