chapters 229 & 233.
- What is Christopher's favourite dream? Does Christopher mention any similar
dreams in the whole story? What does this dream tell us about him and his
conditions of life? Why does he mention that dream at this moment of the story? - Do you think Christopher has any reasons to mention the film Blade
Runner on page 242? - On page 247, Mother 'put her hands over her face and breathed out hard' and
on page 260, Father 'rubbed the sides of his forehead with his fingertips'. How
do they feel at that moment? What does Christopher not understand? - Why does he not like France (see p. 243)?
- On page 253, Christopher ends the Minesweeper game in 174 seconds. What does
it tell us about how he feels? Why does he feel this way? - Christopher keeps insisting that he needs to take his A-level maths exams.
What is his mother's reaction? What does it tell us about their relationship? - On page 260, Christopher says 'And it's best if you know a good thing is
going to happen ... But I think it is worst if you don't know whether it is a
good thing or a bad thing which is going to happen.' What does it tell us about
him? Can you find any moments in the book that echo this statement? - How would you describe Christopher's family once he moves back to Swindon?
What has changed? Is it for the better or for the worse? - What is his relationship with Mr Shears?
- Has Christopher changed by the end of the book? If yes, how? Find examples.
- Has his father changed? Has his mother changed?
- How do you perceive the ending of the book? Do you think Christopher's plans
for the future are realistic? Why? Why not?