Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Who was your favorite member of the Stack family? How did you resonate with their story?

2. How might you compare this novel to classic works of dystopian literature, such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Children of Men, or The Hunger Games? What characteristics distinguish this story from its predecessors?

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

1. Did Eilish’s resilience resonate with you? How do you cultivate resilience in your life? 

2. The novel underscores the importance of the family unit in building resilience. What groups, communities, or relationships do you turn to to find empowerment, purpose, and resolve?

3. How plausible did you find the dystopia that Lynch brings to life in his novel? Did it remind you of your own society in any way? 

4. Is it important to voice your values, beliefs, and political stances? How does your opinion on this compare to the novel’s position on personal politics (consider, for example, how speaking out or remaining silent shapes Larry, Mark, and Eilish’s character arcs)?