YA 2018 READING 2018 SHEET
THE ONE MEMORY OF FLORA BANKS EMILY BARR
l Despite suffering from anterograde amnesia, Flora manages to overcome many obstacles throughout the story and support herself. Did you find you could relate to her? What adversity do you face in your own life that you would like to overcome?
l Do you think Flora’s mum is a villain or a victim? Explain your answer.
l Do you like Drake? Do you think he is an unusual love interest? What does he represent?
l Did you find the structure repetitive?
l Did you enjoy the ending? What would you have done if you were in Flora’s shoes?
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S.T.A.G.S M A BENNETT
l S.T.A.G.S is about a rich elite who yield too much power in their school. How realistic is their power?
l The book starts with the words “I think I might be a murderer”. By the end of the novel do you think that statement is true or false?
l Henry and his friends call people who use social media “savage”. Do you think technology is a force for good or bad in today’s world? Give your reasons why.
l Children’s books are often set in boarding schools. Why do you think this is? Which other boarding school novels do you like?
l S.T.A.G.S is being adapted into a film. What aspects of the story do you think will translate well to film? Who would you like to see play the main characters?
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IT ONLY HAPPENS IN THE MOVIES HOLLY BOURNE
l Did you like the realistic portrayal of teen romance or did you miss not having a traditional happy ending?
l Do you think the portrayal of Harry is realistic? Did you like him?
l In the book Audrey finds the courage to apply for drama school. What is your ideal career path and do you feel under pressure from society to do something different?
l Holly Bourne shows how complicated adult relationships can be through Audrey’s parents. Who do you feel more sympathy for, her mother or father?
l Films are very important to both the protagonist and the author, and Holly Bourne includes a list of some of the movies that are important to her at the end. What are some of the films that are important in your life, and why?
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MOONRISE SARAH CROSSAN
l Moonrise is about the brother of someone who is on death row. Do you agree with the death penalty? Did your opinion change after reading this book?
l Look at the poem “What Can We Forgive?” on page 310. Is this poem powerful even though it is short? Explain your answer.
l Loneliness and companionship are both important themes in the novel. Find a poem that exemplifies each one and explain why you chose it.
l What do you think about the prison guards who look after prisoners on death row?
l The front cover shows a young man, in the dark, looking up at the moon. Why do you think the publisher chose this cover? What does it represent?
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AFTER THE FIRE WILL HILL
l After The Fire is told in the present and through Moonbeam’s flashbacks. What did you think of this as a storytelling technique?
l The book is inspired by real life events. How much did you know about cults before reading it? What do you feel you’ve learned from it?
l Moonbeam has been brought up within the Lord’s Legion. How do her feelings towards the group and its leader Father John change over the course of the novel?
l Can you understand why Moonbeam’s Brothers and Sisters were persuaded to join the Lord’s Legion and believe in Father John’s teachings?
l What are your feelings towards Moonbeam’s mother? What do you think you would have done in her place?
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INDIGO DONUT PATRICE LAWRENCE
l Indigo is scared of the intense anger she sometimes feels and what it might make her do. Why do you think she fears it and how does it affect her behaviour towards others?
l Indigo has reconnected with her biological sister Primrose. What do you think their relationship represents to Indigo? How do you feel about Primrose by the end of the book?
l The book is told from both Bailey and Indigo’s point of view. Did you think this worked well? Explain your answer.
l When JJ tells Bailey about Indigo’s parents and asks him to contact her biological grandfather, he is unsure what to do. Can you understand his behaviour? What do you think you would do in his shoes?
l There are lots of musical references in the book. Did you feel these added to the story?
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RELEASE PATRICK NESS
l All the events in Release happen over the course of a day. What did you think of this storytelling technique?
l There are two stories being told in the book: the story of Adam, and the story of the ghost Queen. Do you think these stories worked well together? Do you see any connections between them?
l Adam often compares himself to his brother Marty, who has his own secrets to reveal throughout the story. What was your first impression of Marty, and does this change by the end of the book?
l Patrick Ness has described Release as his “most personal” book yet. Have you read any other books by Patrick Ness? How do you think Release compares?
l What did you think of the ending of the book?
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THINGS A BRIGHT GIRL CAN DO SALLY NICHOLLS
l The novel explores different attitudes towards violence in the struggle for women to get the vote. Do you think violence was justified or not?
l What other inequalities are highlighted in the book? Do you think life is as hard for people from working-class backgrounds now as it was for Nell?
l Who do you identify with the most—Evelyn, May or Nell? Give your reasons why.
l Do you think you would have been a pacifist in the First World War or would you have wanted to fight for your country?
l The book ends in 1918 with the Representation of the People Act but what do you imagine life is like for the three main characters 10 years on? What do you think they are doing in 1928?
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LA BELLE SAUVAGE PHILIP PULLMAN
l The characters in the book all have daemons. What do you think the daemons represent and what do they tell us about the people they are connected to? What would your daemon be?
l What is the role of religion in the book? Is it seen as a positive or negative force?
l The world of La Belle Sauvage is similar to ours but it also has fantastical elements. What did you think of this? Would you like to live in Malcolm’s world?
l Hannah gives Malcolm lots of books to read, especially crime and mystery stories. Are there any parts of the book that you feel borrow elements of crime and mystery stories?
l Some of the characters in La Belle Sauvage also appeared in Philip Pullman’s earlier His Dark Materials series. Have you read His Dark Materials? Did it add to your understanding and enjoyment of La Belle Sauvage or not?
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YA 2018 READING 2018 SHEET
STRAIGHT OUTTA CRONGTON ALEX WHEATLE
l Straight Outta Crongton is the third book that Alex Wheatle has written set in the South Crong estate. Have you read any of the other books and how do you think this compares?
l Mo and a lot of the other characters in the book speak using slang. What did you think of this? Did you find it easy or hard to understand?
l Did you think that Mo’s decision to take revenge was realistic? What would you have done in her shoes?
l Alex Wheatle has said that he was partly inspired by the 2017 Women’s March when he was writing this book. Can you see that influence in the story? Explain your answer.
l Were you surprised by the ending of the book? Explain your answer.
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