This month’s FYA Book Club selection is The Memory Book by Lara Avery. 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
Sammie assembles an NPC task force of feminist icons to keep her motivated and inspired. Share one icon who would be on your task force and why she inspires you.
Questions
1. On the surface, the premise of this book sounds like a Nicholas Sparks novel. Did Lara Avery successfully avoid Lifetime Movie territory, and, if so, how did she do it?
2. Sammie’s voice is bold and vibrant. Did she strike you as an authentic teenage protagonist? Why or why not?
3. Did you buy into Sammie’s enduring crush on Stuart Shah? And at what point did you see Cooper Lind as a serious contender? [Bonus discussion: Feel free to take at least ten minutes to analyze why Coop is a dream YA boy.]
4. Sammie’s family is obviously important to her, though she has typical teenage feelings towards her parents and siblings. Which family member did you like the most? And how did you feel about the way her parents treated her and her battle with Niemann-Pick Type C? (If you’re a parent, can you imagine acting differently? Why or why not?)
5. Do you think that Maddie and Sammie were truly friends? When they had a falling out after nationals, Maddie felt that Sammie had been selfish in not telling her, and she was worried that Sammie only wanted to use her for emotional support. Do you think Maddie was right? Why or why not?
6. Did you find the DNRIP tag appropriate? And if so, what moments made you tear up?
7. Speaking of crying, at what point did you realize that Sammie wasn’t going to get better? Did her death surprise you?
