How do you interpret the fact that Callie's grandfather said he had more feeling for the bat than for the soldiers who had died around him? Why did he feel that way? Does this make him a bad person? How does it relate to his general personality and his interest in the natural world?

Discuss the meaning of the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. How are they important to the book as a whole? Choose three chapters and describe how the quote relates to the content of the accompanying chapter.

Discuss the differences between Callie's relationships with her mother and with her grandfather. In addition to their shared interest in science and nature, what do Callie and her grandfather have in common? How does his treatment of her differ from that of her parents, particularly her mother?

Why is Callie so upset...