Finally Seen

Lao Lao is present only in Lina’s memories or on the phone. What writing techniques help to characterize Lao Lao? What traits and changes are apparent, even though this character does not appear in person in any scenes?

How does Carla and her mother’s involvement with the WWOOFers organization support their goals while hindering them from progressing forward? What are the most probable reasons Mrs. Muñoz decides to leave the farm? How is her decision to leave similar or different from Dad’s decision? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.

Reflect on the novel’s use of social media and consumer platforms (TikTok and Etsy), Mom’s cell phone, and Lina’s Chromebook. What overall role does technology play, and what does technology symbolize in the book? Use specific examples to support your response.

The author leaves some subplots in Finally Seen unresolved. What message is the author trying to convey by leaving questions such as Lao Lao’s fate, the green card, and Dad’s job path unanswered?

Most characters in Finally Seen are either dynamic, meaning they experience a change (such as a shift in their beliefs), or static, meaning they do not experience change. It is questionable whether Pete Burton is static or dynamic by the novel’s end. What is the narrative impact of leaving these questions unanswered?

In the Bellagio hotel room, Finn accuses his father of pushing his “toxic masculinity” (a term that refers to offensive or harmful beliefs, tendencies, and behaviors rooted in traditional male roles taken to an extreme) onto Finn. What is the connection between this phrase and societal stereotypes? How does Finn defy stereotypes? Use specific evidence from the text to support your answer.

Several characters serve as antagonistic forces against Lina and her family. List the antagonists in the novel, ranking them from least to most antagonistic using evidence from the text. What is your rationale for each antagonist’s rank?

Consider different characters’ reactions when Mrs. Scott challenges Flea Shop. How is the topic of book banning a particularly fitting one, considering Lina’s various obstacles in the US? How does this conflict contribute to the novel’s themes?