A List of Cages - Questions for Discussion

1. What do you know about Adam?

2. How did Adam know Julian?

3. Imagine if you were becoming friends with Julian and he trusted you enough to tell you this story. How do you think you would react? How would it affect your friendship?

4. Do you know anyone like Russell?

5. Do you think Julian will be able to move forward and live a “normal” life?

6. Have you ever known someone with ADHD? How does Adam, if at all, remind you of them?

7. How does Charlie change his attitude toward Julian?

8. Do you agree with Adam’s decision to not contact the police about Russell’s abuse? Part of the reason he agrees not to is Emerald’s argument that Russell will only get a few days of jail time and then be back with Julian. Do you think that would happen? How would you have handled it?

9. How did Adam save Julian?

10. Adam almost breaks up with Emerald because of Julian? Do you think he is over reacting? Why or why not?

11. Julian’s life is literally saved by his friendship with Adam. Given that Adam and his friends are seniors and Julian is a freshman, how do you think the next three years of high school will go for Julian?

12. A List of Cages tackles very complicated, disturbing, and important issues and questions. Can you tell what are they?

13. One of the most unsettling parts of the novel is the idea that abuse can occur and no one realizes what’s happening. Does that idea make you reconsider how you view the people around you in your school or community? Do you think that was part of the author’s intent?

14. The book’s title comes from a sentence fairly late in the book: “The things I know stay in my head as I stand on my own two feet at the end of the day, and I walk back to my room with my journal to write my list of cages.” What does that mean to you?

15. Do you like the book ending? If you were the author how would you want to end the story?

 Link to download the book for free-
http://blacklib.com/book/815029

Happy reading!

SYMTOMS OF BEING HUMAN - DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Riley writes, “I can’t blame you for trying to categorize me. It’s a human instinct” (p. 58). Why do you think we as humans have a need to identify others as boys or girls? How does this become problematic?

2. Why is calling Riley “it” (p. 5) more offensive than incorrectly assuming “he” or “she”? What should you do when you aren’t sure which pronoun to use when addressing someone?

3. After a tough first day at school, Riley tells Mom, “I just really want to blend in here,” to which Mom replies, “Maybe ‘blending in’ is overrated.” When do you think it’s important to blend in? When is it important to stand out?

4. In chapter 4, Riley can’t even name one friend to call to hang out, but by the end of the book, Riley has Solo, Bec, the Queer Alliance group, and the blog community. How did being true to who Riley is lead to these friendships?

5. Draw from your own experiences online. What are some of the pros and cons of the anonymity you can have on the internet? In what ways does this anonymity give Riley courage? How does this same anonymity lead to problems with bullying?

6. When Riley tells Mom and Dad about the study date, Dad starts to ask if Riley’s friend is a boy or a girl (p. 68). Why is this important to Dad? Why does Mom cut him off?

7. Why do you think Doctor Ann recommends that Riley start a blog? Considering both the positive and negative responses Riley receives, do you think the blog was ultimately a good thing or a bad thing for Riley? Why or why not?

8. When Vickers harasses Riley in the cafeteria, Solo stands up and tells him “Sit down, bro. You’re being an ass” (p. 88). Have you ever stepped in to stop bullies before things got worse?

9. Riley tells Solo, “So you gave up something you really loved just to fit in with a bunch of guys who laughed at you and called you fat,” to which Solo responds, “I didn’t stop liking Star Wars, or even talking about it. I just stopped wearing the furry backpack to school” (p. 95). Have you ever changed something about yourself to fit in with a group? How did that make you feel?

10. Doctor Ann tells Riley, “As for wondering if it’s okay to be who you are—that’s not a symptom of mental illness. That’s a symptom of being a person” (p. 110). Have you ever wondered if it’s okay to be who you are? Have you ever felt you needed to hide a part of yourself in order to be accepted by others?

11. Reread Riley’s blog response to Anonymous (p. 115–118). Do you agree with Riley’s advice? Why or why not? If you had received that anonymous message, how would you have responded?

12. Over the course of the book we learn that Riley attempted suicide, Anonymous (aka, Andie Gingham) thought about committing suicide, and Bec’s sister actually did commit suicide. How do these experiences impact Riley? How is Andie Gingham’s message.

Link for free download
http://blacklib.com/book/697684

Happy reading!

The Running Dream - Discussion Questions

1. Why is Jessica’s injury so particularly devastating for her?

2. Do you think Jessica’s up and down emotions are normal or to dramatic?

3. How would you react if you lost one of your limbs?

4. At first, Jessica wished she had lost an arm instead. Which would be better/worse?

5. Who is Sherlock? Why is Jessica so happy to see him when she returns home? Why does Sherlock’s morning routine bring Jessica so many mixed feelings?

6. How do her friends and teammates show support for her?

7. Who do you think is Jessica’s best friend?

8. Does Jessica always appreciate the type of support that they offer her? Why or why not?

9. What is unique about Jessica and Rosa’s friendship?

10. How does Jessica feel about stepping out onto the sidewalk with her teammates during the “Help Jessica Run!” car wash? Discuss her mixed emotions.

11. Which physical limitations would be harder for you to handle – Jessica’s or Rosa’s?

12. In what ways did Rosa inspire Jessica?

13. How did Jessica show her appreciation for Rosa? Did this change the way others reacted toward her as well? How?

14. What inspired Jessica to think about running the River Run?

15. What do you think about Gavin? Did you like that they ended up together?

16. Do you think the romance between Jessica and Gavin was important plot point or did you wish it hadn’t been included?

17. Early on in the novel, Jessica tells readers that her dad always wants to “fix” things. Although Jessica’s disability does not represent anything that he can fix, how does he help her to successfully complete the River Run with Rosa?

18. What was the toughest obstacle you have ever overcome in your life and how did you do it?

The Girl from Everywhere - Discussion Questions

1. Why is the title of the book The Girl From Everywhere?

2. Can you describe Nix? What do you know about her?

3. What is navigate? If you could navigate, where would you go?

4. Who are the Temptation’s crew members?

5. What Nix’s father obsessed with?

6. Why would her father obsession conflict with Nix’s existence? 7. Who is Auntie Joss?

8. Who own the map Nix’s father wanted? What does Nix’s father need to do to get the map?

9. What do Mr. D and his associates?

10. What do you think of Nix’s father? Is he a good father to Nix?

11. Why does Mr. Hart shoot Blake? Is he Blake’s father?

12. How does Blake survive his wound?

13. Is Kashmir Nix’s best friend or more than that?

14. Who is Blake?

15. Do you like the love triangle between Nix, Kashmir and Blake? If you were Nix, would you choose Kashmir or Blake?

16. What is your favorite character in the book? What do and don’t like about the book?

17. If you was the author, would you change the book ending?

18. Could you guess what would happen in the next book

Link to download the book for free:
http://blacklib.com/book/673122

Happy reading!

13 Little Blue Envelopes - Discussion Questions

1. What is the 4^th Noodle?  Why does Ginny go there?
2. If you was Ginny, what would you do after you receive the packet from Aunt Peg?
3. How does Ginny get the PIN to her ATM card?
4. What is “mysterious benefactor day?” Who does Ginny finally choose to donate money to?
5. Why do Keith and Ginny fight?
6. How does Ginny meet Beppe? What happens between Beppe and Ginny?
7. What does Ginny visit first in Paris?
8. How does Ginny find the café her aunt worked in?
9. How do Keith and Ginny meet in Paris? How do they spend their time in Paris?
10. What does Ginny decide to do in Amsterdam and who does she spend time with there?
11. What secret does Olivia share with Ginny?
12. Why had Aunt Peg visited Copenhagen?
13. What does Ginny find out about her Aunt Peg in this letter?
14. What happens to Ginny and her friends on the beach in Greece?
15. What secret does Richard finally tell Ginny?
16. What does Ginny find behind Aunt Peg’s Manet picture?
17. Why did Aunt Peg delay selling her paintings?
18. What do you think of Aunt Peg? Would you want to have an Aunt like her?
19. What does Ginny feel Aunt Peg wanted her to do in the last letter?
20. What do you think Ginny learned from her adventure?

The Lie Tree - Discussion Questions

1. Why does Faith’s family move to the island of Vane?
2. At the beginning of The Lie Tree, what is the first detail to show that Faith has a very curiosity character?
3. How do you think the setting of the island of Vane adds to the atmosphere of the story?
4. Who are the members of Faith’s family?
5. Why do you think Faith feels a connection with her father’s snake?
6. What happened to Faith’s father?
7. What makes Faith think her father is murdered?   
8. How does Faith know about the lie tree?
9. What is Faith’s first lie? How does Faith spread it?
10. Discuss the ripple effect of the lies that Faith tells. Which do you think has the biggest impact?
11. In what ways do you think Faith is similar to her father? In what ways is she different?
12. Discuss the conflict between religion and science in The Lie Tree.
13. ‘A girl cannot be brave, or clever, or skilled as a boy can. If she is not good, she is nothing. Do you understand?’ (Erasmus) Discuss the ways in which Faith and other female characters face prejudice because of their gender.
14. Were you surprised by the identity of the murderers?
15. Do you like the ending of the book? If you were the author, how would you end the story?
16. If you had a Lie Tree in your possession, what would you do?
17. Are there mysteries that remain unexplained at the end of the novel?
18. How does this novel differ from other fantasy books you have read?