Book Clubs
Sophie Last Seen is perfect for Book Clubs. Ripe for discussions with topics ranging from loss of a child, complicated grief, self-harm, kidnapping, romantic relationships, divorce and even bird-watching.
Marlene is happy to attend your book club if possible or have a Skype conversation.
Get in touch if you'd like to explore Sophie Last Seen for your book club.
Marlene is happy to attend your book club if possible or have a Skype conversation.
Get in touch if you'd like to explore Sophie Last Seen for your book club.
Questions for Book Club discussions
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-What do you think the Sophie ghost image represented? We know Star is deeply troubled. Perhaps these are the imaginings of a desperate young girl who has never recovered from the unsolved mystery of her best friend’s abduction. But when Star finally stands up to the ghost, telling her “it’s time to say goodbye,” Sophie climbs out the window and “Star grabbed for her and caught her by the foot, but she couldn’t hold on.” Maybe the “ghost” is real after all.
-The ghost Sophie spoke in a different way than the real, young Sophie. Why do you think that was?
-What was Star’s self harm really about?
- Both Jesse and Star had self destructive behaviors. Why do you think that was?
-Did you find Jesse and Star had any similarities in their actions, emotions or behaviors? How so?
-What do you think Jesse’s collecting junk symbolized? Do you think she was a collector or hoarder?
-Eventually, as she learns more, Jesse incorporates the “clues” she’s found into her art. She looks for a new kind of energy, a new life, in her work as an artist. Can art help a person to manage grief?
-What did Sophie’s bird watching mean to you?
-Did you think the runaway girl, April/Ophelia was involved in Sophie's case? How so?
-Was Jesse’s journey in grief something you could relate to? Was Star’s? Was the ending of the story satisfying?
-The story deals with a number of intense, heavy topics: possible kidnapping, runaway child, self-harm, spirited or ‘difficult’ child or a child possibly on the spectrum, guilt, betrayal in marriage and complicated grief. Which of these issues were you most drawn to and why?
-Is the kind of grief that Jesse is dealing with different than if she knew what had happened to her child?
-Were you surprised to learn what really happened to Sophie?
-Do you think it’s possible to move forward and have a happy life after living through a tragedy like Jesse did?
-What would you have done to cope?
-The ghost Sophie spoke in a different way than the real, young Sophie. Why do you think that was?
-What was Star’s self harm really about?
- Both Jesse and Star had self destructive behaviors. Why do you think that was?
-Did you find Jesse and Star had any similarities in their actions, emotions or behaviors? How so?
-What do you think Jesse’s collecting junk symbolized? Do you think she was a collector or hoarder?
-Eventually, as she learns more, Jesse incorporates the “clues” she’s found into her art. She looks for a new kind of energy, a new life, in her work as an artist. Can art help a person to manage grief?
-What did Sophie’s bird watching mean to you?
-Did you think the runaway girl, April/Ophelia was involved in Sophie's case? How so?
-Was Jesse’s journey in grief something you could relate to? Was Star’s? Was the ending of the story satisfying?
-The story deals with a number of intense, heavy topics: possible kidnapping, runaway child, self-harm, spirited or ‘difficult’ child or a child possibly on the spectrum, guilt, betrayal in marriage and complicated grief. Which of these issues were you most drawn to and why?
-Is the kind of grief that Jesse is dealing with different than if she knew what had happened to her child?
-Were you surprised to learn what really happened to Sophie?
-Do you think it’s possible to move forward and have a happy life after living through a tragedy like Jesse did?
-What would you have done to cope?
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