Discussion Leading Questions Chapters 8-15 Kamrie & Maria

Chapter summary: Throughout chapters 8-15 we get a full description of how Amabelle's parents passed away, we see more development of the relationship between Amabelle and Sebastien, and we also see more relevance of the class structure starting with Joel being hit by the car. 

Question 1: This is not so much a question but it is something that caught our eye and we think should be paid attention to as we further our reading. In the beginning of the book it talked about how Amabelle was sewing a button on indigo colored shirt. (pg. 5) Then on page 16 it mentions the color indigo again and how the shutters of Señora Valencia's house were painted that shade. It mentions the color on page 47 talking about a shirt that was made out of indigo-dyed flour sacks. And finally, on page 70 talking about the bright indigo sky. So this is not so much an in depth question, but we are curious as to why the color keeps being mentioned? Why is this the reoccurring way she describes things.

Question 2: Why does the size and color of the children matter so much that Señor Pico would be so distracted and would hit someone with his automobile? On the bottom of page 38 we see this when Señor is asking Don Ignacio these questions over and over again. Wouldn't you think Señor Pico would be more interested in knowing if the children were healthy and if his Señora was well after giving birth?

Question 3: Death seems to be a huge part of the novel already and doesn't phase the characters greatly. (Sebastien's dad, Amabelle's parents, Valencia's mom, Kongo's son, and Yves' father all died) How do their reactions strike you as a reader? Should the deaths be a bigger deal then they are? 

Pg. 49 "Poor Kongo. Condolences, Kongo. Two new children came into the world while you have to put your son in the ground." 

Pg. 60 "I'd rather die young like Joel did." "I'd rather have death surprise me," she said loudly. "I don't want to wait a long time for it to come find me." Quote by Mimi

Question 4: "He ran both of his hands up and down my back. He had been this way the whole year we'd been together. His favorite way of forgetting something sad was to grab and hold onto somebody even sadder" (pg 54). Is this what they do for each other? Is Sebastien's way of expressing his sadness through touch, a way to get rid of it? They justify the deaths of their parents by meeting one another. Do you guys think this is morally right? … 

Question 5: We see the presence of social class emerge as a factor through these chapters. Page 63, 66, 68 and 70 show the social status between the Señora and Amabelle, "one of them and one of us"(the workers and the more wealthy) etc. Higher status is present and is also being practiced. What do you think about the social classes and why is it so stressed? Also, do you think it is going to lead to more war and death? Or do you simply think it is stressed as a matter of respect.