1. Notes Prompts and Supporting Material for pages 113-153

2. * Part Two of the novel marks a new ‘in-between’ stage in the students lives.

3. * Consider the way Keffers interacts and responds to the students at the Cottages. Is it discomfort or disgust that he feels towards them? * What does being put into various halfway homes suggest about the students abilities to look after themselves? What does it suggest about their ability to ‘integrate’ into the world of the ‘normals’?

4. * ‘…no one would stop us if we wandered off, provided we were back by the day and the time we entered into Keffer’s ledgerbook.’ (p116)

5. * Where are the Cottages set? Do we know? What impression do we get of the setting? * How different are the Cottages to Hailsham? What are the differences? * What is the mood and atmosphere of The Cottages? Does it seem inviting for 16 year old young adults?

6. * Kathy describes how people tend to mimic ‘appropriate’ and ‘normal’ behaviour that they see on the television. Why might they do this?

7. * What part does physical intimacy and sex play in this section? Why is it important?

8. * It isn’t until the students are away from Hailsham and ‘settled’ into the Cottages that Kathy starts to stand up to Ruth. What does this change signify? * What are your impressions of Ruth? Why does she lie and manipulate people?

9. * Who are The Veterans? What role do they play? (this means why is it important that they are part of this section – what do they allow us to understand about the main characters, and what theme do they contribute to?)

10. * What sort of relationship exists between Ruth and Kathy, throughout the novel but particularly in this section?