8. Nicky's argument with her father after Charlotte leaves becomes a turning point in the novel. What does Nicky discover about herself in this passage? What does she learn about her father?

Nicky discovers a strength she didn't know she had. She's able to finally stand up to her father and tell him how she feels. She's grown up a lot, and, he realizes it, too. She learns that her father is not as cold and unfeeling as she'd thought, and, that he had been grieving. She realizes that he's not as strong as he seemed.

9. When Nicky overhears Charlotte's confession, she notes, "I want to believe that my father and I were meant to stumble across Baby Doris and give her a chance at life. But I'm not sure. I think about accidents and intersecting footsteps" (page 240). What does she mean by this observation? What role does fate or chance play in Light on Snow? Offer some examples.

I don't remember too many examples, really...but, I think she's just referring to the cliche "things happen for a reason." Just that they lost their family members, moved up to the north, and took that walk that day so that they could save that baby in the woods. But, then again, she's not sure if maybe all this was just chance, and, it was pure luck and coincidence that they found the newborn. I guess some examples of it are just the fact that they're taking the walk in the first place...that Charlotte and her boyfriend ended up in that hotel, in the middle of nowhere. That the detective was in the convenience store just as Nicky was buying the tampons. Hmmm...that's all I can think of right now.


10. The morning after the snowstorm, Nicky and Charlotte move a table into the kitchen. What does this action suggest? What exactly has changed?

This suggests that they both feel more comfortable now in this house, and, it's time that the house become more of a home. It changes the feeling in the kitchen, suggesting that it's time to move on.