Start some conversation with these discussion prompts:

September: March: The Trilogy

1. How do protests today compare to those depicted in March? What are some similarities? What are some differences?
2. Why was it so important for people fighting for Civil Rights to keep their protests nonviolent?
3. What has been accomplished by the Civil Rights movement? What still needs to be accomplished today?
4. What are the reasons that the authors chose the graphic novel format to tell John Lewis’s story?

October: Burn Baby Burn

1. Why do you think Nora keeps the issues she was experiencing at home secret?
2. “The real dangers are often closer to home then we’d like to admit.” What do you think this quote from the blurb on the back cover of the book means or conveys?
3. How does setting both at home and in the world impact Nora’s life?

November:  Sabotage: The Mission to Destroy Hitler’s Atomic Bomb.

1. Bravery and patriotism can be defined in different ways, in different contexts. How do the characters differ in their representations of bravery and patriotism in Sabotage?
2. Had you previously heard of the historical events depicted in this book? Why do you think you may have or have not heard about these events?
3. How does Bascomb use characteristics from different genres to tell this story?

November: Salt to the Sea

1. Bravery and patriotism can be defined in different ways, in different contexts. How do the characters differ in their representations of bravery and patriotism in Salt to the Sea?
2. Had you previously heard of the historical events depicted in this book? Why do you think you may have or have not heard about these events?
3. When told that the soldiers “with a strong chance of survival will be embarked” upon the Wilhelm Gustloff, and Alfred says: “Quite wise. Leave the browned cabbage in the basket. It makes no sense to save a head with only a few good leaves.” How does this reflect the Nazi view of humanity? How is this view flawed? Would he pass as a healthy cabbage?

December: Symptoms of Being Human

1. Discuss the theme of secrets. How do secrets bind and tear different characters apart?
2. How does the author address the subject of gender identification? Why do you think the author chose to approach gender in this way?
3. How does this book show the difference between sexual identity and gender identity?
4. Did you prefer the magical realism of When the Moon Was Ours or the realistic portrayal in Symptoms of Being Human?

December: When the Moon Was Ours

1. Discuss the theme of secrets. How do secrets bind and tear different characters apart?
2. How does the author address the subject of gender identification? Why do you think the author chose to approach gender in this way?
3. How does this book show the difference between sexual identity and gender identity?
4. Did you prefer the magical realism of When the Moon Was Ours or the realistic portrayal in Symptoms of Being Human?

January: On the Edge of Gone

1. How does Denise’s autism aid or hinder her during this end of the world catastrophe?
2. What are the ethical implications of choosing people to live or die? How would you choose who survives?
3. In the end, why do you think Denise makes the choice she does? What would you have chosen?

January: Playing for the Devil’s Fire

February:  Radical

1. What assumptions did you make about the cover of this book? (Even before reading it!)
2. Do you think Bex’s views are radical? Did your opinion change throughout the book?
3. Why do you think Lucy made the decisions she did? What do you think motivated Lucy’s decisions?

February: Watched

March: The Passion of Dolssa. 

1. Do you think Dolssa’s “beloved” is real or imaginary? If he is real, why doesn’t he save Dolssa and her mother? How do you explain the miracles that seemed to occur in her presence?
2. Dolssa is being pursued because she is seen as a criminal by the church. The people of Provensa see her as good. What risks are the people of Provensa taking by siding with Dolssa instead of the church?
3. Do you believe Botille at the end of the story? In an interview, Julie Berry herself tells readers not to trust her.

April: To Stay Alive: Mary Ann Graves and the Tragic Journey of the Donner Party.

1. When faced with life or death situations, how is the humanity of the characters in the book challenged? How does that affect them later in life?
2. Discuss how death is portrayed in To Stay Alive. What do you think of this portrayal?
3. What experiences lead to the growth of the characters in To Stay Alive?

April: Scythe. (Arc of the Scythe, Book 1)

1. When faced with life or death situations, how is the humanity of the characters in the book challenged? How does that affect them later in life?
2. Discuss how death is portrayed in Scythe. What do you think of this portrayal?
3. What experiences lead to the growth of the characters in Scythe?

May: The Sun Is Also a Star

1. How is the novel timely on the topic of immigrants in the United States? Is the situation with undocumented immigrants complicated or straightforward?
2. Natasha’s family considers themselves Americans, even though they are undocumented immigrants. Daniel’s family considers themselves Korean, even though they’ve been American citizens for many years with Daniel and his brother both born in the US. Is each family right or wrong?
3. How do each of the characters in this book confront grief and experience love?

May: Great American Whatever

1. How do you think the story would be different if Quinn had read the text message from Annabeth earlier in the book?
2. Should Jeff have kept his romantic relationship secret from Quinn?
3. How do each of the characters is the book confront grief and experience love?