How does the division of the book into three parts correspond to Stephen’s development as a character? How does Hirsch characterize him at the beginning of each section of the book, and how does that change by the end of each section?

Stephen’s grandfather dies before the novel opens, but he is still a prominent character. How does he influence the narrative? What does this say about the theme of abuse and trauma?

What imagery does Hirsch use to develop the setting of Settler’s Landing? How does this contribute to the tension between fantasy and reality in the Landing—i.e., the preservation of “traditional” American life versus the reality of the apocalypse?