1. Who is narrating? What historic or other signposts are
available to the reader so that the story can be located in time and
place? To whom or what does the title
refer?
2. What do you think of Evelyn,
Tina, and Eileen? What about Tina's
father? What kind of people are
they? What do they look like? What is Sam's role in the family and in the
story? Share your impressions of other characters that stand out, and why.
3. When do you learn the
narrator's name? What is going on in
the story when this occurs? What, if any, is the significance of the scene
where the narrator's name is revealed?
4. How does Moriarty use
language to reflect the experiences and thoughts of the characters? Examine and discuss whether or not Evelyn's
thoughts and spoken words are reflective of a child's point of view, and
why. Share some examples that you find
effective and/or moving.
5. How do Evelyn's feelings
about her mother affect your feelings about Tina? Explore whether or not you are sympathetic or disgusted by Tina,
and why. At the end of Chapter 11, why
does Evelyn not wipe her mother's kiss off of her forehead? Share some examples of how Moriarty brings
out the mother/daughter relationship and whether or not you can relate to it,
and why.
6. Why do you believe Tina
doesn't speak to her father? How do you
respond when you learn that he told the family that a "little horse"
is coming to dinner? Discuss this
scene, and its implications. Consider
how such a small phrase can reveal so much.
7. The car that doesn't shift is
one of the many symbols Moriarty uses.
What is its symbolism? Share
some of the other symbols used throughout the story and how they are utilized.
8. Discuss the whole school milieu
that Moriarty evokes in The Center of Everything. What are the roles of
friendship pins and particular pieces of clothing in the lives of grade-school
kids? What are your memories and
experiences of these years? Share
whether or not you think Moriarty successfully conveys these school
experiences, and why.
9. Discuss the use of religion
as a recurring theme throughout the book.
As a storytelling device, what purpose does it serve? Why would a man as "religious" as
Tina's father shun his daughter and be so unforgiving? How does Eileen live her beliefs? How does religion affect Evelyn? What happens at the church meeting with the healer?
Why do people believe in healers? Share whether or not Tina comes to believe
in some sort of religion, and why.
10. Why does Moriarty use the
struggle between evolution and creationism in the story? What makes it particularly useful here?
Why do people have this debate? Examine whether or not the characters'
positions ring true, and why. What would you say to those who have different
beliefs than yours?
11. Do you believe Deena's
pregnancy is motivated by Travis' change of plans? Should Evelyn have shared this Deena? What position does Evelyn
put herself in by doing this?
12. How does the car accident that
kills Traci affect Evelyn? What
motivates Evelyn to initially keep Traci's belongings hidden? Examine the
significance and possible symbolism of Evelyn hanging onto Traci's clothes and
locket into high school, and what they represent to Evelyn after Traci's death.
13. Discuss the
underlining theme throughout the novel of being chosen or not being
chosen.
14. Discuss Moriarty's
use of foreshadowing throughout The Center of Everything. How does it
influence your reading?
Copyright © 2003 by Laura Moriarty. All Rights Reserved.
About
this Guide
Laura Moriarty received her master’s degree from the University of Kansas and was awarded the George Bennett Fellowship for Creative Writing at Phillips Exeter Academy. She lives in Maine and is at work on her second novel.