For a time, LaVaughn and Jolly become intricately involved in each other’s lives. Which young woman helps the other more, Jolly or LaVaughn? What is your rationale for this decision? Consider these points as you formulate a response to the question:

• How do Jolly and LaVaughn meet? How would you summarize each young woman’s situation at the start of the story?
• What factors drive them apart, and what pulls them back together? What patterns of commonalities exist in their disagreements?
• In what different ways do the two help each other? What is each young woman’s situation at the end of the story?
• How does their relationship shift over the course of the novel?

Teaching Suggestion: This prompt connects to the theme of Redefining the Idea of Family. Preparation for this discussion offers an opportunity to practice critical thinking; students also might evaluate their thinking using criteria such as clarity, logic, support, and open-mindedness. Students might address these points in a pre-writing response individually, then complete a post-discussion analysis explaining ways their views shifted based on ideas learned from peers. A way to ensure all voices are heard at least once could be a wrap-around at the end of the discussion, where each person shares quickly a brief 1-3 sentence answer to the large question or another question.