There are many minor characters in Lola in the Mirror. Choose one—Roslyn, Ivan Salhus, Esther Inthehole, or Christina—and analyze their purpose. How does this character’s actions impact Lola’s character development or the narrative’s plot progression? How does this character contribute to the novel’s thematic explorations?

Dalton’s writing is detailed, including the names of real places, facts and statistics, and lived experiences of Brisbane’s unhoused population. What is the narrative effect of integrating nonfiction elements within the fictional novel?

Water takes many shapes in this novel. Although this guide explores the motif of the river, consider rain as a separate motif. Using evidence from the text, what does it represent?