1. Discuss the appropriateness of the book's title, its double meaning, and apply it to several different events in the story.

2. An initiation story is one in which a certain event, or series of events, change a young person forever. Think of Chrysta in this way, discussing both her exterior and interior changes.

Which one event do you think affected her the most?

3. Compare and contrast the following characters from this book: Chrysta and Dare, Donny Figeroa and Luke, Lissa and Joanie.

4. Is the book's ending a good one in your opinion? Why or why not? Note special passages which may have predicted such a conclusion.

5. Throughout the book, various songs and works of literature are mentioned, and the arts are a very important part of life in Excelsior Springs. In what way does this provide a type of framework for...