1. Rose went to great lengths to rescue Axton. Would you have done the same? How far would you go to save a best friend? Would you put yourself in danger?
2. Which secondary character was your favorite and why?
3. Some of the characters have questionable ethics. Roxy used to steal, Axton uses drugs, and Sullivan is a criminal. Do the positives outweigh the negatives in these characters?
4. Compare and contrast Rose’s “adopted” family with her real family. What are the positive and negative traits of both?
5. Rose’s mother, Barbara, repeatedly tells Rose to do something with her life. Is she wrong to pressure Rose to get a degree and find a better job?
6. Did Rose evolve over the course of the book? Why or why not? If so, what brought about the change?
7. Who is more successful, Rose or Jacks? Why?
8. Do you think Rose regretted her decision to break away from her family and gain her independence?
9. What were the major themes throughout the book?
10. Which character do you relate to the most and why?
11. Do you wish the characters had done something different or made a different choice?
12. Describe what you liked about the writer’s style.