Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All

How do the notes Iris leaves for both Aspen and Alan help reveal her character? What larger message does the novel use Iris’s kindness to convey? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

How is the symbolic significance of Magnolia’s knapsack in Miller’s story? How does its significance change across the novel?

Consider the significance of Magnolia and Iris’s names. How does the motif of flowers in Miller’s novel contribute to the novel’s plot and themes?

Besides her parents, which character does Magnolia see most differently by the end of the story? How does her changing perception of the people in her life impact her character arc?

Throughout the story, what advantages does Magnolia learn she has that others do not? Which specific characters help her to better appreciate these advantages? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

How does Miller use the setting of The Bing Qi Ling Bubbles Laundromat to underscore Magnolia’s arc? How do Magnolia’s feelings about this place change across the story, and why? How does this setting help reinforce the theme of The Gift of a Wider Perspective?

What do Miller’s chosen chapter titles contribute to the narrative structure? How does Miller use her structure to reinforce the story’s themes?

How does Iris help to create a chain reaction of friendship in Magnolia’s life? What obstacle of her own does Iris have to overcome before she can be helpful in this way? What do your answers to these questions say about what real friendship is?