Isobel Catching
How did Catching get her last name?
From her great-great-grandmother, who was exceptionally good at catching stray cattle
What is the name of Beth's father?
Michael Teller
What is Prose?
Written language in its ordinary form
What or who does the Crow represent?
Crow, who is the ghost of the murdered Indigenous girl Sarah Blue) represents communication across the veil between the living and the dead, as well as resilience, transformation, and ultimate freedom
Where is The Other Place?
The Other Place is the dreamlike, monochrome landscape where Catching's mind retreats to process her horrific trauma and captivity.
What does Catching’s mum teach her about the Catching women?
That Catching women are fighters
What happened to Beth's mother?
it is not told in the story. The only information that is given is that she passed away when Beth was an infant.
What is Free Verse?
Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular rhythm
What do the Fetchers represent?
The Fetchers are an allegorical, verse-based representation of corrupt authority figures who act as modern-day links to colonial exploitation and the stolen generations
What are the "colours" in the other place?
The "colours" in the Other-Place represent a person’s emotional life, psychological health, innocence, and capacity for joy
Why is Catching in hospital?
Rescue teams found her severely disoriented, highly traumatised, and under the influence of drugs following a suspicious fire at a local children's home
How did Beth die?
Beth died in a tragic car accident when another vehicle hit the car being driven by her Aunt Viv.
What is Allegory?
A poem, story or picture that has a hidden meaning that is like one really long metaphor
Who is The Feed?
The Feed represents the ultimate consumers of life and innocence—the serial killers and abusers who physically destroy the abducted girls.
How are colours stolen by The Feed?
They are taken by The Fetchers and then fed on by The Feed. Once consumed they become Grey.
What does Catching say about why Beth is still on earth?
Beth is still on Earth because she is trapped by her father Michael’s paralyzing grief and her own fear of leaving him alone
What does "Moving on" mean?
Letting go of the physical anchor to Earth and crossing over to "the other side".
What is Foreshadowing?
A literary device where an author drops subtle hints, clues, or warnings about what will happen later in the story
What are the Shimmer Beasts?
The Shimmer Beasts are a metaphorical, verse-based representation of police search hounds and the overwhelming panic of being hunted
What does "The Gray" mean?
Gray represents trauma, grief, and emotional numbness
What physical injuries does Catching have?
She sustained physical trauma, including a head injury, a broken hand, and exposure to a severe storm.
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What are the two main themes that Beth's character explores in the novel?
Grief and Loss
What is Representation
How we depict (create and present) things, ideas, or people in a text.
Who is the Butterfly Girl?
Beth Teller
What is "The Feeds feast?"
The Feed (the abusers) rips open the victims' spirits to physically eat their colors. By devouring their colors, the abusers feast on the girls' humanity, leaving them hollow