Write a well-organized essay in which you argue that Cadence's unreliable narration reflects and symbolizes the Sinclair family's shared unwillingness to face painful realities. In your essay, ensure you:

• Analyze at least two specific narrative techniques Lockhart uses to highlight Cadence's unreliability (e.g., memory gaps, fairy-tale interludes, fragmented prose).
• Examine how the Sinclair family's fixation on appearances and perfection parallels Cadence's skewed view of events.
• Discuss how the novel's climactic revelation reframes earlier scenes and what this structural choice reveals about truth, guilt, and self-deception.
• Support your argument with textual evidence and a close reading of specific passages.

Thesis Reminder

Your essay should present a debatable claim — not just a summary of the plot. Consider: What does Lockhart ultimately imply about the price of deceiving oneself and others? Suggested length: 4–6 paragraphs | Timed write or take-home option

Write a well-organized essay in which you argue how Cadence Sinclair Eastman's unreliable narration acts as both a reflection of trauma and a structural element that compels the reader to confront the damaging effects of the Sinclair family's carefully crafted myths. Use specific examples from the novel — such as Cadence's fragmented memories, the family's fixation on appearances, and the story's climactic reveal — to support your argument.

Consider addressing one or more of the following in your argument

• How does Lockhart utilize gaps in Cadence's memory to reflect the Sinclair family's wider culture of denial and silence?
• In what ways does the novel imply that "lying" — to oneself and to others — serves as both a coping strategy and a source of destruction?
• How does the fairy-tale interlude structure comment on themes of greed, legacy, and entitlement within the Sinclair family?

Requirements

• Develop a clear, debatable thesis
• Integrate at least three pieces of textual evidence with analysis
• Address the relationship between narrative form (how the story is told) and thematic content (what the story means)
• Suggested length: 4–6 paragraphs