1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What were your overall impressions of Maddie as a character? Were you on her side from the onset, or were there times when you grew frustrated with her?
• The book explores many different themes—responsibility, grief, independence. Given Maddie’s full journey, what experience did you enjoy the most, and what did you enjoy the least?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• What is your experience with caregiving, whether for parents, children, or as a job? What does the act of caregiving evoke in relation to responsibility? Have you ever felt solely responsible for another person?
• Do your cultural values intersect at all with those of Maddie’s family, particularly regarding caregiving?
• If you have brothers, how does the relationship between Maddie and her brother, James, relate to your relationships? How does Maddie and James’s relationship relate to your understanding of gender roles and gendered expectations?
• How do you feel about the relationship between Maddie and her mother? Did the distance between mother and daughter remind you of any relationships with maternal figures in your life?
• Does the book connect to your own experiences of seeking or gaining independence?
• In terms of identity, have you ever felt stuck between two cultural or racial identities like Maddie does as a British-Ghanaian woman? If not, are there other personal experiences that help you understand her character?

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