1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How does the relationship between Tova and Marcellus develop over the course of the novel? In what ways does nonverbal companionship allow Tova to process grief?
• The circumstances surrounding Tova’s son’s death are not completely clear until the end of the novel. What does this say about the nature of grief itself? Does this late clarity effectively enhance the novel’s portrayal of grief and loss?
• Consider other popular texts featuring a human and animal friendship. How do these texts differ and compare in their portrayals of animal intelligence and companionship? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Connect the book’s themes and characters to personal experiences.

• What instance of isolation in your life can you use to compare with Tova’s? How did an experience of loss or isolation shape you? What unexpected connections did it create?
• Describe the function of chosen and biological family in the text. What does a hybrid family structure in the text offer that a traditional family structure might not? What does family mean to you?
• Which moments of grief, isolation, or loneliness in the text affected you the most? When did you feel hope, and when did you feel despair? 

3. Societal and Cultural

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