SPOILERS BELOW

1)   One of the hallmarks of the book was that Kennedy’s voice matured and progressed as she matured. Did you like this about the style? 

2)    With which character did you empathize the most? Why? If you empathized with none, which reminded you most of yourself?

3)    Kennedy uses music and haphazard prayer as coping mechanisms. Did she use any other vices to cope? Have you used any of these yourself? Did they work? What is prayer, anyway?

4)    If you could hear the same story from another character’s point of view, which character would you choose?

5)    What aspects of the story did you most relate to?

6)    Did you align with the nostalgic feel of the book? Did it remind you of your childhood in any ways?

7)    Did you like the title? If not, what title would you have given it? 

8)    What did Kennedy say goodbye to? Which goodbye was the most difficult for Kennedy? Which one was hardest for you to read? Have you experienced something similar?

9)    Who was your favorite character and why? How different is the way a person sees themself from the way they are seen? 

10) What were the pivotal turning points for Kennedy? Did they change her? How?

11) What did you think of the ending? What do you think will happen next with the main characters? What do you think happened to Marcus? Did Valerie and Rog live happily ever after? Did Kennedy and Funeral Boy end up together?

12) What fuels Kennedy? Fear of hell? Reward of heaven? Anger? Faith? Nothing?

13) Was there a teacher who influenced Kennedy? Who? How? Have you been influenced by a teacher?

14) What is the significance of the lightning bolt, if any?

15) Jake’s sexuality is confusing to Kennedy. Was it to you? Was it to Jake? If Jake lived in modern times, what label/orientation/pronoun would he give himself?

16) How important a role does religion play in Kennedy’s life? Do you think she has a strong faith? If so, in what? What does Kennedy believe in?

17) Who does Kennedy trust the most? The least? Did she get it right?

18) What is the significance of JFK throughout the book?

19) What is the significance of the tree? 

20) Is hope a myth? Is love a lie? Is God dead?