Compare and contrast Ma with her daughters. How does each character react to the unforeseen challenges that the family finds in America? Use character descriptions and evidence from the text to support your answer.

What techniques does the author use to foreshadow the tragic event of the fire and the factors that contribute to it? Include at least three different examples to support your response.

Analyze Rose’s first explorations into the broader landscape of New York. What misconceptions of America does she have, and how do her first interactions disillusion her?