1. What did Jake try to accomplish with his participation in the Iditarod race? And whom did he try to impress—his father, Kamina, or himself?

In what way did the fact that Danny committed suicide make it important for Jake to take his place?

2. Like the humans, the dogs in the story all have their own distinct personalities. In what way do they parallel human attitudes?

3. One of the more complicated relationships in the story is that of Jake and his father. In what way is his dad responsible for his attempted suicide, and how does the final meeting after the race show how Jake has changed?

How does his dad react to these changes?

4. Jake is able to overcome the problems that led to his earlier suicide attempt, but Danny is not. Why? How does Danny's attitude differ from Jake's? Do you...