Hurricane Child

There are several spirits who appear to Caroline. Choose three spirits and explain what they symbolize, using examples from the text to develop your answer.

Caroline learns about spirits, demons, and guardian angels. What are the similarities and differences of each, and how do these differences appear in the novel?

In Kalinda’s letter to Caroline at the end of the story, she says, “My mother claims she will never let me leave her sight again” (195). In what ways does this parallel Caroline’s relationship with her own mother?

In Chapter 5, Caroline thinks to herself, “The only animals on this Earth that really understand life are the insects that are born and mate and die within seconds” (81). What does Caroline mean by this, and why does she feel this way?

Consider Kalinda’s question in Chapter 5: “Does it feel like your heart is split between two homes? Between Saint Thomas and Water Island, I mean?” (71). In what ways does this foreshadow the new life Caroline’s mother is building on Saint Thomas and the new life Caroline’s father is building on Water Island?

As the novel begins, Caroline is unsure of how to begin searching for her mother. How does finding Doreen by the end shape Caroline’s understanding of happiness?

Caroline says that Kalinda is a violin, and Kalinda replies that Caroline is a drum. If Caroline’s mother is an instrument, what instrument is she? Use three examples from the text to support your answer.

When Caroline goes to the library, she learns, “The Caribbean is a place where spirits and ghosts exist more than anywhere else in the world” (96). Why is the Caribbean haunted, and how does this reason(s) play into the novel’s plot or themes?