Bonfire (Ritter) - Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
1. Would you call Abby an unreliable narrator? Do you trust her?

2. Do you relate to Abby? What are Abby’s greatest vulnerabilities? Do you think she has strengths or vulnerabilities that she is unaware of?

3. After working so hard to leave Barrens and her small-town roots behind, why did Abby return home? Did she find what she was looking for?

4. Why did Abby turn her environmental investigation into a search for Kaycee? Why did Abby keep pushing, even when she was threatened?

5. Describe Abby’s relationship with her father. How did her parents and upbringing shape who she became as an adult?

6. What do you think of Misha? Does the author intend for her to be a sympathetic character? Why or why not?

7. What pressures led Brent to get involved with Optimal’s exploitation of local high school girls? Is Brent to blame?

8. Describe the scenes in which the town comes together to celebrate – their bonfires and football games. In what ways are the characters trying to relive their high school days? Do they succeed?

9. What does the novel say about reconciling with your past? Do you think Abby was happy that she returned to Barrens?

10. Could this story have happened in a bigger town or a city? What about Barrens made it easy for Optimal to take advantage of its citizens? Is there an underlying takeaway about the relationship between big companies and small towns? Explain.

11. Were you surprised by the revelations at the end of the book? Did you suspect Brent or Misha all along?

12. Are Abby and Condor a good match? Did you want to see them together in the end?

13. What do you think the future holds for Abby? Were you satisfied with the ending?)
(Questions issued by the publisher.)

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