Research the historical context of the 1950s in Ohio and the broader United States. Analyze how Mildred D. Taylor portrays this context through the eyes of the narrator, ’lois, using specific examples from the text.

Why does Taylor choose to make the conflict centered around a Cadillac instead of a house or other object? How does the car function as a symbol throughout the novel?

Review scenes in which ’lois interacts with one or both parents. Analyze her relationships with her parents and how they affect the novel.