READING GROUP GUIDES

Questions for discussion for your Book Club are available here. Don't look until after you have read the book(s) to avoid spoilers! 

Download a printable Reading Group guide for The Astonishing Thing.

Download a printable Reading Group guide for Something Worth Saving.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does the cat die in the end?

No!

In none of my books does the cat die in the end. My stories are about families in crisis, not about the loss of a pet.

Why do you write from a cat's point of view?  

I enjoy stories with an unconventional (or unexpected) narrator.

When I first wrote my debut novel The Astonishing Thing, I thought it would be a fun exercise to try and write from a cat’s point of view as she tries to solve the mystery of where her mother went. Boo gives her human family unconditional love, of course, but because she’s a cat I had a little freedom to make her sarcastic and judgmental, and give her voice some humor.

As I wrote more of the story, I realized that the cat could almost be a stand-in for smart 12-year old girl. Boo understands a lot of what’s going on—but not everything, including her mother’s actions. Boo is perceptive in some ways, but misinterprets other situations. So the reader must go on a journey with Boo, piecing together clues until the story becomes clear.

Tell me about your cat.

My cat Winnie is a big black cat with white paws. When we adopted her from the local SPCA, we promised we would keep her indoors. But we open windows so she can feel the breeze on her face and watch the birds and other neighborhood cats. She's surprisingly agile for a cat with "extra padding" on her. My kids tell me she needs to lose a little weight, but I think she's perfect.

READING GROUP DISCUSSIONS

I'm happy to attend (or video chat with) your reading group! Contact me here.