Flight Of The Puffin

What does Libby mean when she says, “[M]y own two feet are rooted in the ground, and I’m blooming up and out into the world” (222)? Why do children need room to grow and be who they are, especially as they approach adolescence?

What do puffins symbolize to Vincent, and how do they become a significant symbol for the other protagonists as well? What does the book’s title, Flight of the Puffin, refer to?

Why does Libby often draw sunrises? How does this symbol comfort her during a difficult time in her life?

How is each child’s individual experience thematically influenced by Self-Preservation and Being Oneself? What does Jack learn from the others about this important aspect of human experience?

Why does Libby start creating the art cards? What does it mean to her when she discovers that they made a difference, and what does she teach others about how small acts can have a great impact?

How does receiving the card from Libby help Vincent find the courage to stand up to bullies? What did T teach Vincent about courage and resolving to be true to oneself?

Why might smaller towns like the one Jack lives in struggle to adapt to modern standards and ideas of what’s socially acceptable? What motivates Jack, and why does he initially have difficulty accepting change?

What do T’s poems reveal about their life, their decisions, and their motivation for leaving home? How does the inclusion of poetry in a novel add extra depth and interest to the reading experience?