Sadie

Sadie has what is called an ambiguous ending because Summers does not explicitly say what happens to Sadie or who is responsible for stabbing Keith. Why might Summers have made this choice, and how does it add to or detract from the novel’s effectiveness? Consider the following as you develop your ideas:

• What strategies does Summers use to keep the novel’s ending ambiguous?
• How does the idea of ambiguity relate to the novel’s content and themes?
• What are your criteria for an “effective” novel?
• How does the ambiguity of this novel’s ending impact its effectiveness?

Teaching Suggestion: Even if students answer this prompt in writing, they may enjoy debating the criteria for “effective” novels in a class-wide discussion. You might encourage them to think about a broad range of standards, like elements of a reader’s engagement and emotional response, as well as the novel’s cohesiveness and ability to convey theme. After students respond, you can extend this conversation by asking how Summer’s choice to end Sadie’s narration and give a male podcaster the “last word” in Sadie’s story impacts the reader’s understanding of the novel’s themes: The Vulnerability and Strength of Women, The Commodification of Female Suffering, and/or The Effects of Poverty and Privilege.