What does Nhamo learn while journeying by boat, both about herself and about others?

How does Nhamo's journey compare with the journey of Homer's Odysseus?

Storytelling plays a large role in this novel. Aside from entertainment and distraction from her problems, what purpose do the stories serve? How do they aid our understanding of Nhamo's life? Try researching them to see if the they are real stories from the culture or if the author made them up.

Are Nhamo's traditional religious beliefs a hindrance or a help to her? How so? Use examples from the novel to support your answer.

Even though Nhamo cannot read or write, she knows more than most. Describe the kind of knowledge she has, and give examples from the book. How did she get this knowledge?

Nhamo learns many lessons before she finishes her quest. What does she learn at...