Dark Water Rising

How does working with Zach change Seth’s perspective on his future? What does this say about his development as a carpenter and as an adult? Compare and contrast these two characters.

Consider the character of Papa. Is Papa a dynamic character? How does he change over the course of the novel? What might this say about the natural tragedy that occurs and his role in relation to Seth?

Discuss the lingering effects of trauma in the text. How do the characters cope with their trauma? Does the book offer a solution or route to recover from trauma? What does it say about societal trauma as well, especially for a town that, it can be argued, never recovered from this disaster?

How did Papa’s absence during the rebuilding help Seth transition from childhood to adulthood? What does this say about his role as a carpenter? Why might carpentry be used as a metaphor here?

How do Seth’s attempts to befriend Josiah reveal the realities of race relations at the time? Analyze how Seth attempts to counter the deeply embedded racism in this society.

What does the novel suggest about how people treat each other in the wake of tragedy and disaster? Consider how new families were formed after the storm. Analyze the emphasis on rebuilding homes and Seth’s role in this.

How does Hale’s use of vivid descriptive language enhance the reader’s understanding of the storm and its effects? Analyze the role of the storm, an ecological disaster, toward Seth’s family and the town.

What does Seth’s description of Galveston post-storm as “a challenge” and the choice of some to stay and rebuild suggest about the city’s ethos and identity after its promise was destroyed in one night? What might this be suggesting about contemporary society in the wake of ecological disasters? How might it be relevant that this novel was published the year after Hurricane Katrina occurred?