What perspective does Miss Thornton bring as an experienced teacher when she reflects on Allison, Selena, and their classmates? How do her observations and predictions about the eighth graders prove true as the plot unfolds?

How do Constance’s past and her secrets impact her relationship with her daughter? What fears and hopes does Constance harbor for Allison? How might Allison’s emerging attitude towards romance and sexuality reflect beliefs she has absorbed from her mother?

As an outsider, what is Tomas (Tom) Makris able to perceive about Peyton Place? What surprises him about the world of the small town? In what ways does Tom have a positive impact on the town, and on Constance in particular?