The Barbarian Nurseries

The theme of escape is threaded throughout the entire book. Besides Araceli, Maureen, and Scott, what other characters are running from something? From what are they running? Why did the author make this choice?

The hero’s journey is a well-known critical theory. Do some research into the various stages. How does this book fit that mold and, more importantly, what pieces has the author omitted or changed given that Araceli, the hero character, is a modern Mexican female?

Maureen and Scott end the novel falling back into old patterns. Did they learn anything from their experience? Why or why not?