In the novel, the breakdown of language is paired with the breakdown of both societal and familial structures. What argument is being made for the intersection of communication, relationships, and society?

• How is communication interrupted?
• How do the characters in the novel adapt, or fail to adapt, to the fragmentation of their communities?
• What is the significance of Ella’s repeated search for connection?

Teaching Suggestion: Consider encouraging students to think of the motif of fragmentation as they discuss this prompt. This conversation also relates to the theme of the Individual Versus Society.

Differentiation Suggestion: To support students who have executive function differences and/or who may struggle with keeping track of events across the entire novel, it may be helpful to create a fill-in-the-blank timeline of the novel’s events centered on the different ways that society and families break down as their communication is disrupted. This can help less abstract thinkers have concrete examples to support their statements.