Nightbooks

How do allusions to One Thousand and One Nights (See: Background) and other stories function within the novel? How do these allusions help illuminate the text’s key themes and ideas?

Natacha and Yasmin both enjoy Alex’s stories, and both commend him for his writing ability. However, Natacha’s praise hurts him while Yasmin’s reassures him. Why do their similar estimations of his skill create such different responses? How do their attitudes reflect The Power of Storytelling?

The story is told by a third person limited omniscient narrator who relates only Alex’s unspoken thoughts and feelings. What are the benefits of learning Alex’s thoughts and feelings, and/or of not knowing those of other characters? Analyze 2-3 reasons for the choice and its impact on the narrative.

In what ways is Nightbooks an updated fairy tale? What fairy tale tropes does it use, and in what ways does it differ from a traditional fairy tale?

How does Nightbooks explore the idea of empowerment and agency? How do Alex and Yasmin learn to navigate their difficult predicament, and how does this affect their character arcs?

What strategies does White use to control the narrative’s mood? Find evidence of at least three distinct strategies (e.g., connotation, foreshadowing, word choice, selection of detail, etc.) and analyze them to show how they affect the story’s mood.

How does the novel explore the nature and value of friendship? How does Alex’s understanding of himself change through his interpersonal connections with others?

According to one of Alex’s teachers, “Good stories […] build their own worlds. Events that might seem crazy or unlikely in reality can make perfect sense within the right context. That’s called interior logic” (48). What is the interior logic of Nightbooks? Identify three significant “rules” by which the novel operates and analyze their importance.