Alone

Consider how Maddie’s parents and stepparents help her survive and cope with loneliness throughout her time alone despite their physical absence. Is Maddie’s reliance on these adults a mark of her dependence, independence, or both?

How does Maddie’s experience of living alone for three years change her attitude toward her family? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Consider the instances in which Maddie’s resourcefulness or risk evaluation fail during her period of desolation (Part 5). Why are these failures especially stressful for Maddie in an emotional sense?

Why does Maddie decide that loneliness and isolation are her greatest challenges, as opposed to finding food and shelter or defending herself from animals, storms, and other dangers? In your discussion, try to identify at least two points in the novel at which her mental health is especially low.

Why do you think Freeman chose to write Maddie’s story in verse instead of regular prose paragraphs? How are possible justifications for this choice woven into Maddie’s preference for poetry over teen fiction?

Analyze the significance of the library and books in the novel. What do books and libraries symbolize, and what challenges do they help Maddie overcome?

Analyze George as a symbol. How does George represent Maddie’s struggle to balance her place between civilization and nature?

How does Maddie’s isolation contribute to her coming-of-age process? Consider that part of growing up is coming to view adults as fellow humans with their own complex internal lives and struggles.