Where's Molly

Most of the trauma and abuse that Molly faces is not shown or described to the reader. Her time at Francesca’s and at her father’s homes are only outlined in the text. Why did Carlton omit these events? Which scenes in the text those missing periods without showing them in graphic detail?

When Molly goes missing, most people think she is experiencing a mental health crisis because the videotape of the store has been edited. How does Carlton explore the relationship between organized crime and technology?

The novel moves back and forward in time. How and why does Carlton use a nonlinear temporal structure?

Both Molly and Cage have tattoos that are briefly described in the text: Molly has a bird with wired on wings, and Cage has flames on his fingers. How do these tattoos relate to their characters? Why are they significant in the text?

Molly usually runs away from trouble, but she occasionally confronts her attackers. How does this characteristic paradox relate to the themes in the text?

When Raymond assaults Molly, leaving bitemark scars on her body, he does not remember assaulting her. What is the significance of Molly’s abuser failing to remember assaulting her? How does this add to the symbolism of the scars?

Molly’s mother is a tertiary character in the text, only mentioned trivially in Molly’s recollections. What methods of characterization does Carlton use for Molly’s mother?

At the end of the novel, Molly has two main fears: that Cage will not love her when he learns more about her, and that Layla will be destroyed by the knowledge of her family history. How do these fears relate to Molly’s character development?