Essay Topics
How does following Hazel’s perspective impact the novel’s characterization and suspense? How does the author utilize shifts between third- and second-person point of view to indicate transitions between the real world and the world of magic and fairy tales? How do the fourth-wall breaks contribute to the reader’s experience of the text?
Consider the role of Jack and Hazel’s home lives in the novel’s thematic exploration of The Impact of Divorce and Depression on Children. What point is Anne Ursu making about the effects of adults’ struggles on their children? How does the author handle these heavy subjects in a way that is accessible and suitable to young readers? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.
Ursu uses the cold to represent emotional numbness and desensitization. How does this symbol offer insight into the white witch’s actions and factor into Hazel and Jack’s character arcs?
