Book Club Questions

1. How do you feel about Ally? How do you think the author wanted you to feel about her?
2. Ally perceives herself as ‘people pleasing’, do you recognise this in her character? Is this a good feature? Do you think she continues to ‘people please’ throughout the narrative? What evidence shows this?
3. Ally sees herself as insignificant among the billions of stars outside her bedroom window. Why do you feel she thinks this? Do you think this led to her decisions in Part 2?
4. Experienced true crime readers expect crime to fit an exact mould, a story, a villain, a hero. How does this formula colour our version of news stories we see every day on the news? Now compare it to the criminality in Wellworth. Do you believe the police acted appropriately—consider the discussion held between Ally and Inspector Ryan. How would this story be reported on the news?
5. What is Sharon’s role in the book?
6. Consider the two love interests in Ally’s world in Widyarra. How are they different, how are they similar? Do any of them bear any resemblance to Ally’s ex-husband Mike? What qualities do you feel she is looking for in a partner?
7. What do you think of the foster parents Joe and Sue? Are they sincere? Do you believe how they raised Ally accounts for how things ended in the book?
8. How does the book deal with deception—the public face we put on versus the private one and our honest thoughts of others? How do you feel about Ally acting on her sincere thoughts?
9. How does the book address the temporariness of teaching jobs? Do you feel Ally’s struggles reflect this uncertainty?
10. Ally’s dreams and memories become clearer as she learns more about Wellworth, the institute. Do you think she is accepting these memories as hers and encompassing them as her past and a significant part of who she is?
11. Do you think Ally liked any of the colleagues she worked with at Widyarra High? Were they real friends? How do you know?
12. Despite Joe and Sue being Ally’s only real family, what kind of a relationship did she have with them? Why do you think she became so protective of Chris?
13. Why do you think Robert supported her throughout the interrogations with the police? Do you believe their relationship will last?
14. Were you satisfied with the ending? Do you think there is a happy ending for Ally, Robert and Jonah?
15. Society views women’s anger very differently to men’s anger. Men are seen as powerful and with a purpose. Women are seen as crazy. Do you think these views played a role in Ally’s actions?