Identify the key elements of the novel’s dystopian world, contrasting it with our own. What are the sociopolitical conditions that define it?

How do the concept of shadows and the interplay between darkness and light function on literal and metaphorical levels? What do they reflect about the novel’s thematic elements and Nina’s coming-of-age journey? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

In what ways does Nina’s past influence her character—in either negative or positive ways? How does her backstory connect her to other major characters in the Shadow Children series?