Leonard often reflects on What It Means to Be Human. How does his outsider perspective help reveal the complexities of human emotions and relationships? How does his perspective change over the course of the novel?

How does the novel balance humor and deep emotional themes? How does the humor help to make the novel’s themes more accessible to a middle-grade readership?

What role does loneliness play in the novel? How do Leonard and Olive cope with their feelings of isolation?