Lia bribes Elijah for help with food and convinces him to take her with him to Mississippi. Biblically, Elijah is a character known for raising the dead, so keen readers will have high expectations for this novel's Elijah. It is unexpected, then, when Lia awakens from sleep to find that Elijah has stolen her money and abandoned her. In a way, it appears that Elijah has not lived up to his namesake, and that he has betrayed his friendship to Lia. When the reader truly considers what friendship is, however, they may reconsider their reaction to Elijah's actions. Friendship should mean one individual wanting the best for another. If Elijah had taken Lia with him to Mississippi, he would have been enabling her disease. By forcing her to ask her family for help, Elijah truly is doing what is best for her. At the end of the novel, Lia does reach out to her family and she eventually gets the help she needs. In a way, this novel's Elijah has fulfilled his role of raising the dead.

1. Discuss, in depth, reasons why Elijah might have run from Lia. Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

2. Do you think Elijah is a true friend for abandoning Lia and telling her to talk to her parents? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your reasoning.

3. Do you think Elijah did what he did because it was best for Lia or because it was best for himself? Why? Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Wintergirls".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of the book. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of the story. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

Over the course of the book, Lia grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "Wintergirls" might be considered a slice of Lia's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that Wintergirls is a "bildungsroman" of Lia Overbrook. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Lia as she changes from a girl who resists getting better to a young woman who participates in her treatment. What are the significant events that change Lia?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Lia's growth throughout the story, do you think "Wintergirls" could be considered Lia's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Wintergirls" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

(see the answer keys)

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