Football Genius

At the end of Chapter 5, we see Tessa interact with the man selling the boiled peanuts in a kind way. How does this behavior frame Tessa for the reader in terms of her relationships with other characters in the book?

Early in the novel, the Midnight Express train seems to mean something to Troy and his relationship to his father. What is the symbolic significance of the train throughout the novel?

Troy’s rival Jamie seems to trigger bad behavior in Troy. How does Troy’s past contribute to his feelings about Jamie? How do you think his behavior toward Jamie might change after the events of the novel and why?