1. Dale Fither has the ability to foresee calamitous events; other young people he meets at Dr. Airman's institute can read minds or project their own thoughts onto the consciousnesses of others. Do these paranormal aspects of The Hero strike you as unrealistic, unbelievable? If so, does that fact detract from your enjoyment of the book?

Why or why not?

2. Dale forges his strongest personal relationship at the institute with Charlotte, a twelve-year-old, while fending off the blandishments of Sonya, who is physically alluring and who is much closer to him in age. On what grounds does Dale prefer Charlotte to Sonya?

What factors finally prompt Sonya to turn against Dr. Airman and to side with Dale and Charlotte?

3. As nearly as you can reconstruct them from the text, what precisely are Dr. Airman's ultimate goals for the gifted young psychics at his institute?

That...