What does the title suggest to you?
Who is your favorite character? Why?
Do you think Simone’s family dynamics were bad enough to explain her self-destructiveness?
Do you have any sympathy for Simone’s parents? Is Simone’s father on any level an innocent?
What experiences with race and/or class differences have impacted you?
If you had been Simone, would you have returned to Oakhill after the first day? Why or why not?
Would you want Satch as your friend? Simone?
Have you known anyone who was suicidal? How did that impact you?
What kind of teacher do you think Simone would be?
How do you respond to Simone’s self-blame? Does it make you feel frustrated with her or sympathetic toward her?
Why do you think Simone responded to her rapist the way she did?
What do you think of the therapists in this book? Which one do you think was most effective?
Do you think the ending is hopeful?
Do you think Simone and Satch will continue to be friends?