Is Dicey a believable thirteen-year-old girl? Why or why not?

In Chapter 10, Dicey states that she is glad Momma waited so long before dying. How would the book have been different if Momma had died in late September rather than in December?

Why do Mina and Dicey become friends? Be sure to include ways in which both Mina and Dicey build the relationship.

Why does Sammy refuse to tell his family why he is fighting? What does this tell us about his character?

What is the primary conflict in the novel? Why do you think it is the primary conflict? How is this conflict resolved?