Every Last Word

Swimming is a special activity for Samantha in that the pool is one of the only places she feels completely at ease. Compare how swimming and writing poetry help mitigate and manage her OCD. How are they similar? How are they different? How does the way she use them evolve over time? 

What do we learn about Samantha by her association with the Crazy Eights? Although it is a toxic network of relationships, she has trouble leaving the group. More generally, what can we learn about teenage girls’ socialization through the Crazy Eights? Explain it as it relates to the book’s primary themes.

AJ is Samantha’s first love. Trace the evolution of their relationship, paying close attention to the ways in which barriers to intimacy are demolished so that their relationship can flourish.

In Chapter 8, Alexis’s birthday party reveals a great deal about the social hierarchy of the Crazy Eights. Unpack this scene with an eye toward how this hierarchy affects Samantha. How do the Crazy Eights contribute to the themes of mental illness and true friendship in the book? 

Caroline, before she is revealed to be a hallucination, is considered to be Samantha's closest friend. What are the broader implications of this statement, particularly as they relate to themes surrounding friendship?

Bullying affects two of the main characters, both of whom are vital to the development of Samantha’s character: AJ and Caroline. Compare their experiences. How are they similar and how are they different? Are there any real-life lessons to be learned and applied to the way bullying is handled in schools? 

Words are a multi-layered motif throughout the book, from the poetry of Poet’s Corner to the actual words spoken as dialogue by various characters. Consider at least three of these layers and discuss how they support the novel’s primary themes.

Caroline’s last poem before committing suicide is called “Every Last Word.” Do a close reading on Caroline’s final poem, as well as two other poems written by Poet’s Corner members featured in the book. Discuss how each of these poems inform the book’s primary themes.