The Girl Who Fell From The Sky

Analyze the ways in which Grandma’s many losses characterize her.

Drew becomes a father figure for Rachel. Trace the development of their relationship and identify three crucial moments that reveal their growing closeness.

Research the book that Drew gives Rachel, Frantz Fanon’s Black Faces, White Masks, and explain why Durrow might have selected this particular title as critical to Rachel’s identity development.

Select one of Nella’s journal entries and do a close reading of the passage. How does her imperfect English add to its pathos?

Why does Laronne take the responsibility of packing Nella’s apartment after her death? Support your response with evidence from the text.

Racist acts play a significant role in the novel. Choose one racist act involving Rachel that takes place at school and analyze the damage it inflicts on Rachel. What specific aspects of the experience are hurtful to Rachel and why?

Rachel receives a lot of attention for her unusual appearance. What does the novel suggest about the role of beauty in society? Support your response with evidence from the text.

The non-linear structure of the novel uses multiple perspectives to paint a complex narrative about one girl’s life experiences. Whose perspective is the most reliable? The least? How do you know?