The fathers of the novel’s main characters are extremes: Seth’s father is literally absent while Jimmy’s is overbearing and intrusive. How does the novel explore this opposition? Are the boys are jealous of each other’s fathers? Why or why not?

Who is the novel named for? Who ultimately has the heart of a champion?

Compare and contrast the different father figures in Seth’s life. Who does he learn the most from and why? Who offers the least and why?