Throughout the memoir, Alison explores her own sexuality. Closeted Queerness and Queer Experience is also a major theme, and it is shaped by both Alison’s life and her father’s. How would you summarize her personal journey to self-discovery? Can it be separated from her father’s? Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer these questions:To what extent does Alison see herself as similar to and different from her father?

• How does Alison negotiate her sexuality and her relationship with her family?
• In what ways does Alison’s being away at college allow her to explore her sexuality more than she had been able to previously?

Teaching Suggestion: Encouraging students to think about how exactly Alison is shaped by her father and his sexuality can help students to understand both characters more. Students should keep in mind that prevailing attitudes toward same-sex relationships may have been different at this time than they are today.

Differentiation Suggestion: For visual learners, you may wish to offer the idea to create a T chart with Alison on one side and her father on the other, with a specific focus on their personal journeys. Parallels in their journeys might be noted using color, symbol, or other visual representations.