Who is Katrina Svenson? Where are her parents? Why does Katrina work in her grandmother's coffeehouse? What would she rather be doing? What is the Closet of Failures? Why does Katrina often think of this closet during the novel? What is in it? What do these things say about Katrina?

Who is Malcolm? Where did he come from? What does he offer to Katrina? Why does Katrina not take it seriously? What is in Malcolm's satchel? Why does he keep referring to a book in the satchel? What is in the book? What does Katrina think of Malcolm? What finally wins her over to Malcolm? Why does Katrina finally begin believing in Malcolm?

Who is Irmgaard? Why does she not speak? Who does Katrina think she is? What does Katrina think of Irmgaard at the beginning of the novel? How does this opinion change...