Essay Questions

Explain how the author builds the theme of sexual violence in the novel I Have Some Questions for You.

The central character Bodie Kane narrates about her troubled childhood experiences, and she takes readers down memory lane on how she was sexually abused by her male teacher during her adolescent years. According to the narrator, she was an innocent young girl in the hands of a predatory male teacher. In addition, the narrator's best friend and roommate, Thalia, was murdered in a love triangle scenario. Therefore, sexual violence is a major theme because the author shows how girls and women are victims of sexual violence in society.

How does the issue of racism emerge in the novel?

The issues of racism emerge when the police arrest Evans Omar, a black man accused of the murder of Thalia, without conducting an adequate investigation. Evans Omar is put in prison for 20 years without adequate evidence. White police officers believe that black people are associated with criminal activities. The narrator, Bodie, believes that Evans Omar did not kill Thalia because the real culprit is free, and she blames herself because there is nothing she can do to rectify the situation.

Why is Bodie accepting an invitation to go and teach in her former school?

When Bodie receives an invitation from Granby High School, she gladly accepts it because she finds it a perfect opportunity to go and investigate the brutal murder of her best friend, Thalia, which occurred during their senior years in school. Upon arriving at the school, Bodie decided to make the murder of Thalia one of the main topics in her class. In the process, Bodie reflected on the true cause of Thalia's death, and towards the end of the story, she concluded that the truer murderer was their predatory male teacher.