The Shadows Between Us

Hestia must learn to trust her own wants and desires, something at which Alessandra excels. What does Alessandra learn from Hestia’s development?

Alessandra begins the text not understanding why Rhoda cares about Galen, but, by the end of the novel, she urges her friend to chase her heart regardless of class distinctions. Does this advice reflect an overall increased awareness of class consciousness? Using evidence from the text, argue why or why not.

Kallias and Alessandra grow emotionally close without touch, but their inability to have physical contact is a barrier between them. Does the novel argue that physical intimacy is inherently necessary to emotional intimacy?

Explore the character of Orrin. What does his presence as a Robin Hood-esque figure add to the text? What does it add to the plot? What does it add to your understanding of the novel’s heroes?

Does the novel suggest that Kallias was right to push everyone away in the wake of his parents’ deaths? Use evidence from the text to support your claim.

Look at one of the outfits in the novel and analyze how that choice in clothing reveals something about the character who wears it.

Levenseller’s world is part historical, part modern. Look at one of the modern aspects (guns, electricity) and analyze how it affects your understanding of the world built in the novel.

Are there any shadows left between Alessandra and Kallias by the end of the text? If so, argue why these matter.