Breadcrumbs

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?

In what ways is Hazel’s identity shaped by the intersection of reality and fantasy over the course of the novel? How does the protagonist’s perspective on reality and fantasy change as she matures?

How does Hazel and Jack’s friendship evolve during the story? What factors contribute to these changes, and how does Hazel learn to accept The Evolution of Childhood Friendships?

Throughout the novel, Ursu alludes to other middle grade fantasy books. What do these allusions reveal about the novel’s characters, and how do they contribute to the novel’s thematic interest in The Intersection of Reality and Fantasy in Shaping Personal Identity?

The Joe Mauer baseball symbolizes Jack’s heart. How does this symbol contribute to the novel’s understanding of love and friendship? What is the thematic resonance of the loss of Jack’s baseball to the witch’s lake near the end of the story?

What plot events and other elements does Ursu borrow from Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen”? How does this story diverge from the fairy tale in terms of plot, setting, and characterization? How do these differences shape the novel’s overall meaning?

Beyond the “The Snow Queen,” what other traditional fairy-tale elements does Ursu employ and subvert? In what ways do Ursu’s metatextual allusions nuance the narrative themes?