1.Rita's nonconformity is both a blessing and a curse. How do you think it hurts her--and helps her?

2.What does Rita learn about the stability of human relationships? Does she tend to trust others, or is she suspicious?

3.When Rita is thrown into the adult world, her innocence dies. When and how is her innocence reborn?

4. Rita has a series of unsuccessful relationships with men. She supposes that men leave her because they don't think she needs them badly enough. What about her might make men think this? Do you believe that she truly wanted the relationships; why or why not?