I'm Not a Crybaby or a Telltale

• The characters do not seem believable to me.  They seem flat and predictable.  There is no depth.   
• What is wrong with their father?  Why is he so uncaring for his children?  Does he blame his children for his wife's death?
• The character of the medicine woman is interesting.  She becomes a sub-mother for the children apparently.  Looks like we won't be seeing much more of her though.  
• What is with the city that Alanna sees in her vision?
• I keep trying to relate this story to a broader perspective, but I can't.  I get the idea of a girl wishing she could be a boy, but besides this there doesn't seem to be a major connection.  I actually find the brother, Thom's character to be way more interesting.  It is brushed over very quickly, but the idea of a boy cross-dressing is definitely more taboo than Alanna's.  
• Alanna tries to convince herself that her father's distant attitude is a positive thing - allowing her to live her secret life.  However, if her father listened, perhaps she would be able to tell him about this and he would actually listen.  I think this concept is something familiar to children.  Every child has thought once or twice that their parents don't care about them because they're too busy with work or with their other plans.  This is extreme though.  
• Why is drinking and drunkenness playing such a big part? (Coram and Myles)
• "I'm not a crybaby or a telltale."
• I cannot help placing a sexual overtone on the whole story.  I am never a good judge of ages and perhaps she is just too young to have to deal with romantic feelings towards the boys; however, I just keep finding her relationships awkward.