Rather than following a single protagonist throughout the story, McBride’s novel has several main characters. How does the author’s choice impact the novel’s structure and the theme of Building Community Across Cultures?

Consider the theme of The Balance Between Mercy and Justice. Which characters show mercy, which fight for justice, and which do both? To what extent do Chona and Dodo receive justice by the end of the novel, and what role does karmic or divine justice play in the novel’s resolution?

How does the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store serve as a motif for the theme of Building Community Across Cultures? Consider Rabbi Flohr, Chona, and Dodo’s connections to the store in your response.