How does the novel depict children’s daily life in a rural community like Sassafras Springs during the 1920s? How does the story’s setting influence Eben’s attitude at the beginning of the novel? What is his emotional state as a young boy on a struggling farming family?

Reading nurtures Eben’s imagination as a child. How does this lay the groundwork for his character development? What do the Seven Wonders of the World signify for him, and how do they influence his idea of the meaning of “wonders”?

Eben’s father incites his son’s quest. How does the novel characterize him? How does he define Eben’s character journey, and what does his perspective on wonders suggest to Eben about life and the world?