The novel uses the backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness as an element in the story. How does Mabel’s changing view of Alaska reveal her character evolution?

Explore the novel’s definition of love. We are given strikingly different definitions of it. Compare and contrast each to decide which, if any, the novel endorses.

This novel is a study in handling grief. Mabel and Jack are influenced by the loss of their stillborn child. What do Faina and the wilderness teach them about death?