At the end of each chapter, the author includes something that is related to the terrorist, rather than Maya herself. What overall effect does this writing strategy have on the tone of the novel? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question.

• Why is Maya’s section told in first person, while Ethan’s is told in third?
• Is there any similarity between Ethan’s story and Maya’s?
• What might the author be trying to say about how our actions impact others, even those we may not know about?

Teaching Suggestion: This discussion question asks students to consider the style of the novel, rather than its content. It may be helpful to remind students to frequently reference the text in their discussion to avoid off-topic guesses at the author’s intent.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who struggle with reading comprehension may have trouble moving beyond the plot of the story to talk about the author's craft. Consider having these students focus on theme, rather than tone, while still answering the same reflection questions. This change may lead them to a larger answer without focusing on the author as much.