In Chomp, Wahoo Cray's family life is solid. His parents show they love, support, and respect him as an individual, and he is responsible and mature in response. Also, Wahoo can show his love for his family with no embarrassment or shame—he asks for help when he needs it and they give it when they can. That's all in stark contrast to Tuna's family life, which has none of the above.
Questions About Love
- How does Wahoo's dad show his love? Does Wahoo realize it?
- If Wahoo's family were not as loving, would he be so mature as a teenager?
- How does your family reflect some of these traits? How does it differ?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Chomp argues that being a part of a loving family or community helps a person deeply love and understand the greater community, or nature, like Wahoo does.
What Hiaasen is saying with these two different family dynamics is that being a good, loveable person has nothing to do with what kind of a family you come from.