This month’s FYA Book Club selection is The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. Check out the discussion questions below! (Slight spoilers ahead.)
P.S. If you’ve already read the book, feel free to add any other discussion questions of your own in the comments!
Icebreaker
“The Serpent King” refers to a belief in certain religious sects that faith will protect the believer from anything, even if they pick up poisonous snakes with their bare hands. Is there anything you thought you were immune to–for example, pop culture you never thought you’d enjoy–that ended up being infectious after all?
Questions
1. Was the friendship between Dil, Lydia and Travis believable? Would you have wanted to be a part of their group in high school?
2. Does Dil deserve a spot in the MLD (Mysterious Loner Dude) Hall of Fame, or did his emo nature make him unappealing?
3. How do you feel about Lydia? Was she a realistic small-town girl, or did she seem more like a caricature?
4. Did Travis’ personal growth feel realistic, or was it too easy?
5. The Serpent King mixes a lot of somewhat unusual themes in one book, from Internet fame to snake-handling religions. After finishing the book, did you want to investigate any of these themes or ideas further?
6. If you were Lydia’s friend, would you want to be a part of her blog?
7. Did you see Travis’ death coming? (And did you cry all the tears?)
8. What did you think about the book’s discussion of the afterlife?
9. Let’s talk about the parents in the book. Who was your favorite? Who was the worst?
10. Do you feel like Dill and Lydia’s relationship post-Travis’s death was healthy for them?
11. What do you think the future holds for Dill and Lydia?
