Essay Questions

What is the importance of the names of Dusty and Lice in the novel?

Dusty Muleman, the main antagonist of the novel, is a sinister businessman that is only out for himself. By contract, lice is an old man that wants to draw back from the chaos of the real world, and may be seen as gross by Noah and Abbey, who are children.

The name Dusty represents all of the bad things about pollution and casino operations such as the one aboard the Coral Queen. Lice, on the other hand, represents a small, seemingly insignificant piece of the puzzle. Lice tries to stay hidden throughout the novel, but is eventually found.

Why is Paine accused of setting fire to the Coral Queen?

Near the end of the novel, when it seems that Dusty will finally be held accountable for his actions, Paine is accused of setting fire to the Coral Queen. Dusty pays a small fine, and is able to resume his operation. Dusty knows about Paine's reputation, and knows that it will be believable that such an environmentalist would try to burn down his ship to protect from pollution. Dusty chooses Paine so that he will not be liable for damages caused to the ship, when in reality the fire was caused by his son, who was carelessly smoking a cigarette while on board.

How does Noah feel about the proposed divorce, and how does this motivate him throughout the novel?

When Noah learns that his mother, Donna, may divorce his father, Paine, he is heartbroken. He had always had a nuclear family and did not want to see that broken apart. He becomes closer to his father and sister Abbey as a result of the news. In order to bring things back to normal, Noah starts the adventure of proving that Dusty is polluting the marina. While he has good intentions and wants to prove that his father is innocent, in many ways Noah's adventure can be interpreted as a distraction from the events occurring in his family. Eventually, when legal issues are cleared up between Paine and Dusty, the family comes together again happily.