A Taste of Blackberries has been praised for the sensitive way it handles the themes of death and grief for young readers. In what ways does the book care for its readers when broaching this subject?

What are some differences between how the child characters and the adult characters process and deal with Jamie’s death? Use examples from the text to illustrate.

What is the significance of Mrs. Houser coming out of Jamie’s house when he’s first stung? How does this incident speak to the theme of how death affects an entire community?