1. Find Perrault's story "Donkeyskin."

Note how McKinley changes the story or adds elements to it. What is the impact of the changes she has made?

2. What are the main characteristics of fairy tales? In what way is this novel a fairy tale?

3. Compare Lissar to other fairy-tale heroines like Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty. Does she share any traits with them? What makes her different?

4. Read about incest survivors. Are Lissar's experiences and her healing realistic in this context?

5. At her lowest points, Lissar is comforted and supported by Ash. Discuss the roles that animals can play in helping humans deal with emotional pain.

6. Lissar must confront not only her abusive father but the vision of her mother as well. Research the relationship between survivors of abuse and their nonabusing parent. Does this angle help explain Lissar's need to...