Since Polly frequently transcends gender stereotypes, how do the men in her life take on the role of damsel in distress? How do the men in her life impact the theme of Gender Expectations and the Quest for Agency?

Compare and contrast Polly’s relationship with her mother and father. Which relationship best demonstrates The Burden and Pain of Family Betrayal? Support your argument with textual evidence.

Research the real Polly Bemis. Are there elements of Bemis’s story that McCunn left out that you feel should have been included? Why do you feel they should be included in the novel, and how would you go about incorporating them?