We're not gonna lie to you: loads of bad stuff goes down in The Circuit. We've got pets dying, friends disappearing, and houses burning up all in the same story—in other words, there are some major disappointments in store for Francisco and his family. They're not easy to get through, and Francisco lets us know that sadness can feel pretty overwhelming sometimes.
But don't worry—there's some good news, too. Sometimes disappointments teach Francisco bigger lessons, like about how much he's grown or how awesome his family is. And while this definitely doesn't erase all the downers, it might make them a tad bit more bearable.
Questions About Disappointment
- What makes the disappointing experiences super rough in this book? And what makes them more manageable?
- Which characters experience the most sadness? Are there any characters that experience oodles of happiness instead? Why do you think this is?
- What are the positive elements to being disappointed? What about the negative elements?
Chew on This
Disappointment breaks Francisco down. Francisco goes through so many rough patches, and by the end they've left him with a pretty broken identity.
Disappointment builds Francisco up. Lots of stuff goes wrong in his life, but in the end it makes him a stronger guy, inside and out.