Cort’s father leaves him to check on Cort’s mother just as the hurricane is bearing down on their town. To what extent does Cort's father redeem himself by the end of the novel? Consider these points as you formulate a response to the question.

• How does Cort feel about his father’s decision to leave?
• How does Cort’s father’s leaving lead to Cort, Liza, and Francie being alone during the hurricane?
• What dangers do the children face and how might these dangers have been different had Cort’s father not left?
• What are some actions Cort’s father takes later in the novel that help the children?
• What do Cort and his father discuss after the hurricane?

Teaching Suggestion: The discussion connects directly to the themes of Loss and Separation Within the Family and Responsibility Differences Between Children and Adults. Students might complete a journal before or after the discussion focusing on these themes. At one or more points in the discussion, the class might participate in a philosophical line: One end represents Cort’s father completely redeeming himself, and the opposite end represents his failure to achieve that goal. Students stand along the line in the location that best represents what they believe. Students might compare their rationale with those around them before returning to the full-class discussion.