87 pages • 2 hours read
David ArnoldMosquitoland
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
Mim uses her mom’s favorite lipstick as her self-described “war paint.” Describe the significance of this war paint. What does is symbolize?
Mim says that “detours are not without purpose. They provide safe passage to a destination, avoiding pitfalls in the process” (131). What detours happened on Mim’s journey? How do they help her prevent pitfalls?
How does Mim use her imagination to escape reality? What are the implications of this escapism?
In Chapter 22, Mim makes a connection between heroes and villains. What is that connection, and how do Mim and Caleb fit the interconnected roles?
After Mim meets Walt, she begins to feel like she’s Alice and Walt is her white rabbit. How does Mim’s story parallel that of Alice in Wonderland?
Explain Poncho Man’s significance in the story. Specifically, how does Mim change as a result of their encounter?
How do Mim’s letters to Isabel fit into the story? What purpose do they serve? How do you think the narrative would be different without them?
What is the significance of Abilitol? Why does Mim stop taking it? What does this action signify?
Do you think Mim is a reliable narrator? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.
Why does Mim tell Kathy about her blind eye at the end of the novel? What does her doing so symbolize?
