AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES - DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

 1.       How many Katherines did you meet in your life as a teenager? How many times was Colin dumped by a girl named Katherines? Does it sound realistic to you?

2.  Why does Colin only date Katherines?  What is it that attracts him to that name, even down to the specific spelling?

3.       Who is Hassan? Do you want to have a friend like him

4.       What did Colin think of Lindsey when he first met her? What do you think of her?

5.        Why does Colin study so much? What is he trying to prove? What is the difference between him being a prodigy and a genius?

6.       Who is Hollis? Why does she hire Colin and Hassan to meet and interview people of Gutshot?

7.        Is Colin "normal"? Do we believe that he wants a normal adolescence, or does he want the attention of being a prodigy? Why does he complain about being a prodigy so much?

8.      Why does Lindsey Lee Wells have so many different versions of herself? Do you think that Lindsey is herself around Colin? Why or why not? If not, when do you think she was 'herself'?

9.       Do you agree that Colin was always the dumpee?

10.    What do you think of Colin’s theory that relationships are inherently predictable? Are they?

11.   What makes Colin and Lindsey a better match than Colin and Katherine?

12.   Colin spends most of the story devising a formula to predict romantic success. If it worked, would you use it? Why or why not?

13.   Hassan tells Colin, “I’m a notdoer.” What does he mean by this assessment of himself?

14.    How does the scene at the Memphis warehouse fit in with the rest of the book? What does it do to move the plot forward?

15.   Throughout the book, Colin worries about mattering, about being important, but in the last chapter he feels “not unique in the best possible way.” What helped him change his mind?

16.   What would happen to Gutshot and the people who work at the factory there?

17.   What do you think happened with Colin, Hassan, and Lindsey's road trip? Where do you think they ended up?

18.   What do you think of this book in comparing with other John Green’s books? 

The War that Saved my Life - Discussion Questions

                                               

1. Who is Ada? Why is Mam ashamed of her?  Why do you think Mam "wanted Ada to be a cripple?"

 
2.      What does Ada do when she is at home alone? Why doesn’t she share her secret with anyone?
 
3.      How do Ada and Jamie get out of London in the beginning of the story?
 
4.      Why are Ada and Jamie “the only ones not chosen” ? Why do they end up at Susan’s?
 
5.      When talking about Susan, Ada said, “She doesn’t like us. She didn’t want us, remember?”  Does Susan like the kids? Why or why not?
 
6.      Susan treats Ada with understanding and compassion? How does Ada respond to this kindness? Why?
 
7.      What do you know of Susan? Tell the untold story of Susan’s life as you imagine it might be.
 
8.      Ada stated, “I knew Susan wasn’t real. Or, if she was a tiny bit real, sometimes, at the very best she was only temporary” (p. 202). Later, on page 216 Ada said, “Susan was temporary. My foot was permanent.” Is Susan temporary for Ada? Why or why not?
 
9.      What does Jamie's teacher think about his 'lefty'?
 
10.   Is Ada capable of learning? Why is she afraid of learning at the beginning of the story?   
 
11.  On page 206 Ada said, “Somehow Christmas was making me feel jumpy inside. All this talk about being together and being happy and celebrating—it felt threatening. Like I shouldn’t be part of it. Like I wasn’t allowed. And Susan wanted me to be happy, which was scarier still.” Why is Ada feeling jumpy, threatened, and scared?
 
12.  When the police officer doesn’t believe Ada’s story about seeing a spy, what does she do and say to convince him?
 
13.  Why did their Mam come to take them back to the city?
 
14.  How does the way Mam treat Ada differ from the way Susan treats Ada?
 
15.  Why do you think Kimberly Brubaker Bradley decided to title the book The War That Saved My Life?
 
16.  In what ways did Susan save Ada’s and Jamie’s lives? How did Ada and Jamie save Susan’s life?
 
17.  What are your favorite details of the story?
 
18.  Do you like the ending? If you were the author, would you change the ending of the story?

Everything I Never Told You

1  Discuss the relationships between Nath, Lydia, and Hannah. How do the siblings both understand and mystify one another?

2.     Why do you think Lydia is the favorite child of James and Marilyn? How does this pressure affect Lydia, and what kind of impact do you think it has on Nath and Hannah?

3.     Do you think it is more difficult for Lydia to be the favorite, or for Nath and Hannah, who are often overlooked by their parents?

4.     Why does James give Lydia self-help books about making friends and getting people to like you for Christmas?

5.     What does Lydia do to stop Nath from going to Harvard? Why? Do you know anyone who would do the same to his or her sibling?

6.     Discuss the relationship Marilyn and her mother have to cook and their roles as stay-at-home mothers. Do you think one is happier or more satisfied?

7.     What is the meaning of the novel’s title? To whom do the “I” and “you” refer?

8. What do you think of Jack and Louise’s affair?  Why does Marilyn go to Louisa's apartment to find James instead of calling like she initially planned on doing?

9.  Why does Jack reject Lydia's advances?

10.  What would have happened if Lydia had reached the dock? Do you think she would have been able to change her parents’ views and expectations of her?

11.   This novel says a great deal about the influence our parents can have on us. Do you think the same issues will affect the next generation of Lees? How did your parents influence your childhood?

12.   There’s so much that the characters keep to themselves. What do you wish they had shared with one another? Do you think an ability to better express themselves would have changed the outcome of the book?

Book Scavengers - Discussion Questions

1.      

1. What do you know about Emily?

2. How does Emily feel moving all the time? Would you feel the same if you were her?

3. Who is James? How does Emily know him?

4. Who threw The Gold-Bug into the garbage can? Why? 

5. How do Emily and James find The Gold-Bug?

6. Who is Mr. Remora? What does he do to get The Gold-Bug?

7. What is the bet between James and Maddie? Who is the winner?

8. How do Emily and James find all the clues? 

9. Why does James get angry with Emily? How do they make up with each other?

10. What do you think when Mr. Quisling asks Emily to return the book to Mr. Remora?

11. If you had to make a decision to return a book you were using or cost someone their job what would you do?

12. If you were Mathew, would you give up the concert of your favorite band to help your sister?

13. What is a great surprise for Emily, James and Mathew when they arrive the Bayside Press?

14. Who is Raven? Does Raven help Emily discover any clues?

15. How does Emily find the last clue that leads her, James and Mathew to the treasure?

16. Why would Mr. Remora do anything to get Edgar Allan Poe’s last manuscript?

17. What do you think of the story between  Edgar Allan Poe and Mr. Griswold’s great great great great grandfather?

18. Why does Mr Griswold create his literary treasure hunt?

19. Describe the Book Scavenger game? Would you play the game?

20. What are your favorite details? Do you like the ending of the book?

TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE - Questions for Book Club

1. Who are the Song girls? Which one of the Song girls is your favorite?

2. How does Margot affect Lara Jean's life?  Has Lara Jean changed in any way because Margot is no longer there?

3. Why did Lara Jean write letters to all her crushes when she didn’t want to love them anymore?

4. Lara Jean uses love letters as a way to get over boys. Have you ever used writing as a way to sort through your emotions?

5. Do you wish Lara Jean confess her love for Josh after Margot left for college? Why or why not?

6. Why did Lara Jean tell Josh that he had a boyfriend?\

7. What do you think of Lara Jean’s letter to Peter?

8. What do you think of Lara Jean and Peter’s contract?

9. What was your first impression of Peter?

10. Has your first impression of Peter changed at all during the first half of the book?

11. Do you think Lara Jean should have confessed her feelings for Josh to Margot? Or was she right to keep her feelings to herself?

12. What do you think of Josh when he was so intent on getting Lara Jean to break up with Peter because he wasn’t “good enough for her”?

13. What do you think of the hot tube rumor?  What did you do if you were Lara jean?

14.  How has Lara Jean changed? Has Lara Jean become more independent and what caused this transformation?

15. Did you have an idea of who sent the letters? Who did you think it was and why?

16. Are you Team Josh or Team Peter?

THE HUNGER GAMES - Discussion Questions

1.  How does Katniss feel about the country of Panem? Why does she need to make her face "an indifferent mask" and be careful what she says in public?

2.     How many districts in the country of Panem? At what age people from these districts would be candidates for The Hunger Game? Did they enjoin the game? Why or why not?

3.     Describe the relationships of Katniss with Gale, with Prim, with her mother. How do those relationships define her personality?

4.     How tributes are selected? How did Katniss become one of two tributes in district 12.

5.     How does Katniss‘ early encounter with Peeta affect their relationship after they are chosen as tributes?

6.     Who is Katniss and Peeta’s mentor? Is he a good mentor or a bad one? Explain.

7.     Why are the "tributes" given stylists and dressed so elaborately for the opening ceremony?

8.     When Peeta declares his love for Katniss in the interview, does he really mean it or did Haymitch create the "star-crossed lovers" story? What does Haymitch mean when he says, "It's all a big show. It's all how you're perceived."

9.     Why do they need to impress sponsors and what are those sponsors looking for when they are watching the Games?

10.     Before the Games start, Peeta tells Katniss, " . . . I want to die as myself . . . I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not." What does this tell you about Peeta? What does he fear more than death? Is he able to stay true to himself during the Games?

11.     What are the most important skills Katniss has for staying alive - her knowledge of nature? - her skill with bow and arrow? - her trapping ability? Explain.

12.     What makes Katniss and Rue trust each other to become partners? What does Katniss gain from this friendship besides companionship? Is Katniss and Rue's partnership formed for different reasons than the other group's?

13.     When does Katniss first realize that Peeta does care for her and is trying to keep her alive? When does she realize her own feelings for him? Did Haymitch think all along that he could keep them both alive by stressing the love story? Are they actually in love?

14.     What do you think is the cruelest part of the Hunger Games? What kind of people would devise this spectacle for the entertainment of their populace?

15.     What did Katniss do to save Peeta? Did her action make everyone happy?  Why or why not?

16.     Do you like the ending of the book? Can you predict what would happen in the next book?  

scussion Questions

1.     Where did Jack first plan to take Cora on his first date? Why did his change his mind?

2.     How did Jack, Cora and Austin enter the underworld?

3.     Was Jack a freak? What made him think so?

4.     Did Jack regret that he took Cora to the underworld? Why?

5.     Who was actually “ The Living Avenger”? Explain.

6.     Why was Euri sad when she found out Professor Schmitt couldn’t help Jack and Cora to find the way back to the living world?

7.     Who was Nate? Why did Euri haunt him?

8.     Who was Colonel Mann? Did he a good ghost?

9.     Who was General Viele? Why was his haunted site classified?

10.   Why didn’t Euri want Jack to stay in the underworld? Was she Jack’s good friend?

11.   Was Jack a good friend of Austin? Why did Jack decide to go back to save Austin?

12.     What do you learn about the friendship between Jack, Eurin, Cora and Austin?