Discuss the author's decision to begin and end the story at a Christmas party.

Students should be able to articulate how the similar setting of the first and final section of the book creates a circular narrative that brings the story together and demonstrates the passage of time. They should also note how the two Christmas parties serve to contrast each other and highlight how the book's characters (particularly John) have grown and changed in the intervening year.

Explore the author's decision to include the perspectives of other people in the book, in addition to his own.

Students should discuss how exploring the perspectives of other residents of The Hive adds to the narrative. They may note the thematic similarities between their stories and John's and may reflect how this inclusion of multiple perspectives heightens the universal nature of John's experience.

Why is the book divided into three parts?