Essay Questions

How best can you describe the character Curtis?

Curtis is the novel's protagonist and is a victim of circumstances. Curtis is a depressed 10-year-old boy living with a man who defiles him sexually for pornographic shootings. When Curtis gets an opportunity to escape, he steals his owner's gun and ends up in the streets. While in the streets, Curtis joins other escapee children and starts getting involved in violent criminal activities while moving from one town to another.

What is the main theme in 33 Snowfish by Adam Rapp?

The primary theme in the novel is child abuse and exploitation. Curtis is an orphan living with his owner, who sexually defiles him. Curtis's owner is a child-porn producer, and he forces the innocent boy to have sex with him while filming. On the other hand, Curl is a young girl who depends on prostitution for survival. Despite Curl's young age, men abuse her sexually.

Why are the runaways (Boobie, Curl, and Curtis) determined to sell the kidnapped baby?

The three runaways are hardcore criminals due to various unfortunate circumstances that happened in their past. Boobie kills his parents and kidnaps his younger brother, whom they want to sell in the streets to get money to uplift their living standards. The three friends believe they can get good money after selling the baby to enable them to buy the good things they need in life. Unfortunately, their mission is aborted when the police chase them out of town, and they end up in the woods.