Even at the support group meeting at school, Lia cannot process what has happened to her friend. Even though Cassie was her best friend, Lia has no suggestions for ways in which Cassie could be remembered. When she looks around at her fellow classmates, Lia doesn't understand how they get up each day, eat their food, go to their classes. To Lia, going to school is like going to the cafeteria. Teachers inject them with information. Parents divide the day into "healthy ingredients" like sports, community service, art. In school, teachers control your day and grade you on your performance. Lia's metaphor for school is related back to food because this is how she exercises her own control. She hates school for the same reasons that she hates eating: it takes away the fierce control she has over every single aspect of her life. Because she is too busy controlling her own actions, Lia doesn't care about the actions of others, even when those actions relate to her best friend's memorial. Lia simply doesn't have enough energy.

1. Discuss the ways in which Lia thinks she is different from all the other students at school. Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

2. Discuss events and situations which are beyond a teenager's control and why they might be that way. Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

3. If Lia wanted to exercise control in her life in a healthy manner, what do you think are some of the ways she could do that? Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Wintergirls" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

Lia bribes Elijah for help with food and convinces him to take her with him to Mississippi. Biblically, Elijah is a character known for raising the dead, so keen readers will have high expectations for this novel's Elijah. It is unexpected, then, when Lia awakens from sleep to find that Elijah has stolen her money and abandoned her. In a way, it appears that Elijah has not lived up to his namesake, and that he has betrayed his friendship to Lia. When the reader truly considers what friendship is, however, they may reconsider their reaction to Elijah's actions. Friendship should mean one individual wanting the best for another. If Elijah had taken Lia with him to Mississippi, he would have been enabling her disease. By forcing her to ask her family for help, Elijah truly is doing what is best for her. At the end of the novel, Lia does reach out to her family and she eventually gets the help she needs. In a way, this novel's Elijah has fulfilled his role of raising the dead.

1. Discuss, in depth, reasons why Elijah might have run from Lia. Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

2. Do you think Elijah is a true friend for abandoning Lia and telling her to talk to her parents? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your reasoning.

3. Do you think Elijah did what he did because it was best for Lia or because it was best for himself? Why? Use examples from your own life and "Wintergirls" to support your reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

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