LAWNI - Chapter 14

This was a short, but pretty meaty chapter. Volcanic ash has turned cool fall weather into sub-zero conditions. Miranda's family has moved downstairs and are trying to conserve what food they have. Most notable in this chapter is we learn that Megan and her mother have both died and Megan learns what a hypocrite Megan's pastor is.

1. What utility has been shut off? How has it effected Miranda's family?


2. What volunteer job has Matt taken in town? How does Miranda's mother feel about this?


3. What has happened to Megan? How do you think Megan died?


4. How did Megan's mother, Mrs. Wayne, die? How did Reverend Marshall treat her body in comparison to Megan?


5. Why does Miranda call Reverend Marshall "despicable?" (p. 222) Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
   
6. Who was Miranda skating with?


7. Having a space to call your own is important. How has losing her room for the winter effected Miranda? How would it effect you if you were in Miranda's shoes?

LAWNI - Questions for the Author #3

LAWNI - Chapter 13

In this chapter, Miranda's mother is injured and Miranda learns the difficulty of getting medical treatment in this changing world.

1. What has happended to mom? What is the prognosis?
2. How difficult was it for Miranda to get a hold of Peter to get help for mom? How hard would it be for someone without connections to get medical treatment in Miranda's town or elsewhere?
3. What is meant by the following lines: "It's funny how much I'm enjoying things these days. I think we all are. We're so used to worrying we hardly even notice it." (p. 211).

LAWNI - Chapter 12

If you were Miranda, I'd bet you wouldn't look at chocolate chips the same way again after this chapter. The weather is really changing; 20 degrees the first week of September!

1. Do you think the reaction Miranda’s mother has when she sees Miranda eating the bag of chocolate chips is appropriate, or did she overreact? (p. 193–95) How does her mother’s reaction affect Miranda emotionally? (p. 195)
   
2. The family finally gets letters from Dad. What does he report? (p. 196-198).
   
3. What do you suppose is meant by the following line: "Sometimes it's safer to cry about people you don't know than to think about people you really love." (p. 199).

LAWNI - Chapter 11

Chapter 10 is relatively brief and deals with Miranda having to make a final decision about her schooling for the next year.

1. What decision does Miranda end up making about school?
   
2. What are three factors that impacted that decision?
   
3. Why does Miranda feel taking the school supplies is even "better than Christmas" (p.188-189)?

LAWNI - Chapter 10

This chapter features difficult decisions that need to be made about the upcoming school year as the book reaches late August. Miranda and Jonny must choose between attending either the elementary school or high school for instruction or choosing to be home schooled. On a bike run into the town, Miranda is confronted with the negative side of human nature as a gang of young men are looting the town's boarded up shops.

1. What challenges face the school district in the upcoming school year?
   


2. What is the school board's plan for keeping the school(s) open?
   


3. How are the people of Howell, PA like "prisoners?"

LAWNI - Chapter 9

In this chapter, Miranda thinks a lot about her relationship with her family, Jonny's lost childhood due to the disaster and has a deep discussion about faith with Megan.

1. At the beginning of the chapter, how has the strain of the events following the asteroid attack begun to wear on Miranda's family relationship?
   
2. As a reader, what concerns do you have about Megan?
   
3. What does Miranda realize about her mom when she visits Megan for the last time? (pp. 164–65)
   
4. What does Miranda realize when she said "Its hard to believe I was ever that young. I guess Jonny will never be" (p. 166).