The Bitter Side of Sweet

Compare and contrast Amadou’s upbringing in Mali with Khadija’s in Ivory Coast. Why does Sullivan choose to focus on these two countries? How is the novel’s setting in Ivory Coast significant for the themes Sullivan develops?

Amadou struggles to trust adults. Why is his distrust of others significant? What does it tell the reader about the effects of child labor and captivity?

The story is told from Amadou’s first-person perspective. How would it differ if told from another character’s perspective or from a third-person perspective? How does Sullivan’s use of point of view shape the reader’s understanding of major themes?