Quote the character
"You can't carry the whole world, Cash."
Papaw
What natural landmark near Sawyer serves as a symbol of healing and reflection for Cash?
River
What subject did Delaney help Cash with that first showed her support as a friend?
Science
"Her laughter was sunlight breaking through clouds."
Metaphor
"Sometimes the river is the only thing that makes sense."
Cash
Cash's hometown of Sawyer is located in which U.S. region?
Appalachia
What shared activity on the river strengthened Cash and Delaney’s friendship?
Kayaking
"Cash felt like a leaf carried by the current."
Simile
"I don't want to be defined by what happened to me."
Delaney
Sawyer is described as a place where opportunities are limited. What socioeconomic challenge most affects Cash and Delaney’s community?
Poverty
What major opportunity did Delaney earn that changed both her and Cash's lives?
Scholarship to the prep school
"Grief was a shadow that followed him everywhere, even into the brightest places."
Symbolism
"You've got a gift, Cash. Don't waste it."
Dr.Adkins
Papaw often shares wisdom rooted in Appalachian traditions. What is one activity he teaches Cash that reflects this heritage?
Fishing
When Cash struggled with grief, what did Delaney often provide that helped him cope?
Poetry
"The river was a vein running through the town."
Metaphor
"Leaving doesn't mean forgetting. It means carrying home with you in a different way."
Alex
How does the Appalachian setting influence Cash’s identity even after he leaves for the prep school?
It grounds him with values of resilience, humility, and connection to nature.
How does Delaney’s trauma history make her friendship with Cash uniquely important?
It gives her someone who listens without judgment, offering stability and trust.
"The silence in the classroom was heavy, pressing down like a storm."
Personification