This month’s FYA Book Club selection is Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert. 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
With Suzette spending the year at boarding school and Lionel withdrawing from their friends after his diagnosis, both feel like everyone else has moved on without them. Were you ever in a similar situation, as either the person left behind or the one who moved on?
OR
Did you ever end up liking the same person as someone close to you, like Suzette and Lionel do? How was the situation resolved?
Questions
1. Since the entire book hinges on Suzette and Lionel’s relationship, were you invested in Little and Lion as siblings?
2. Suzette is constantly hiding parts of herself, choosing not to disclose her religion and/or her sexuality in certain circles. Did you sympathize with her inner conflict?
3. Suzette has a tendency to put others (especially Lionel) ahead of herself, even if it means making a personal sacrifice. Do you see this behaviour as keeping the peace or taking the path of least resistance? Selflessness or cowardice?
4. Suzette reluctantly agrees to keep Lionel going off of his meds a secret for the sake of their relationship. Would you have done the same? Did you find her decision to be understandable, even if you didn’t agree with it?
5. “We’re sixteen. People expect us to fuck up.” Do you agree that the mistakes these characters make can be attributed to youth and inexperience, or are there certain things that wouldn’t (or would) be excusable at any age?
6. What did you think of the adults in the book? Were their actions realistic? Should Nadine and Saul receive Amazing Parenthood Awards?
7. This book features a very diverse cast. Were these portrayals handled with the necessary sensitivity and clarity?
8. Several characters encounter microaggressions regarding race, sexuality, or disability. (DeeDee’s attitude towards bisexuality also expose shortcomings in allyship and intersectionality.) Did you think these aspects were handled well, both in terms of how they were integrated into the story and how effective they were as examples?
9. Who was your favourite of out Suzette’s love interests? Who do you want her to end up with, if any of them at all?
