for Crazy Dangerous
Warning: Discussion Questions contain spoilers!
Do not read until you have completed the novel.
1. Sam acknowledges that he didn’t always make the right decisions early on in the novel. What do you think would have happened had he not made those bad decisions? How would events have played out later in the novel? Have you ever had any bad decisions that might have led to something good? Was it worth the error in judgment?
2. What do you think is the true nature of Jennifer’s visions? Why do you think she chose to tell Sam about them? What do you think her brother thought of the visions?
3. Why do you think Sam was so certain that Jennifer’s warnings were true? Why do you think no one believed her even after her first one proved true?
4. Sam longs to be on the track team—to be a part of the popular group. How did that affect his decisions in the beginning of the novel? How did it change toward the end?
5. Who do you think the old man in the truck is? What is his significance?
6. Name the times when Sam had to remind himself to “Do right. Fear nothing.” How difficult was it for him to follow that mantra? What were some times in your life when you’ve had to remind yourself to “Do right. Fear Nothing.”?
7. When Joe advises Sam to tell his father everything that is going on with Jeff, Sam agrees that he should. But then he doesn’t because his father is distracted. What do you think would have happened had he been able to talk to his father that night? Have you ever dreaded having to tell your parents something? What made you face your fear and tell them? What were their reactions?
8. Do you have a mantra similar to Sam’s that you rely on when you have to make a tough decision?
9. Sam’s dad didn’t know what statue he was talking about. Do you think Sam imagined it? What other explanation could there be?
10. Do you think that the fact that Sam is a preacher’s kid has any effect on how he responds to Jennifer? How would you have responded to her?
11. There are a few times in the novel when the timing on an event is perfect, such as when the old man in the truck shows up when Sam is being beaten up. Do you think that was a coincidence?
for If We Survive
1. While in the jungle, Will remembers Ernest Hemingway’s definition of cowardice: “a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination.” What does this mean to Will? Have you ever needed to restrain your imagination to keep it from running wild?
2. Did Pastor Ron do the right thing by trying to reason with Mendoza and the rebels? Why or why not?
3. After being rescued from the firing squad, Will says, “It’s too bad you can’t always live as if it were the last moment of your life.” What does he mean by this? How does Will experience the world right before he thinks he’s going to die?
4. How do Nicki and Jim change throughout the story? What are the lessons they needed to learn?
5. Will acts heroically throughout this story, as do the other characters. In your opinion, which moments would have required the most courage and/or selflessness?
6. At first, Will finds Palmer Dunn to be arrogant and unlikeable; but by the end of the story, we know a very different side of Palmer. Have you ever met someone about whom your first impressions were completely wrong?
7. Will recalls Pastor Ron once saying, “Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything instead.” How does this help Will along the way? How could this saying help you through trying times?
8. Meredith acts fearlessly on more than one occasion, and the people around her notice. Do you have to go through something tragic like she did in order to become a fearless person? Why or why not?
for Nightmare City
1. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where nothing felt right: people close to you seemed to be missing, nothing seemed “normal”? How did you respond? What did you think was happening?
2. Tom feels like he’s won the lottery now that Marie seems to be interested in him—and he wants to believe everything she tells him. Do you think he was too trusting of her? Would you have been?
3. One of the things Tom holds on to in the story is that Burt never lied. Is there anyone in your life that you have that kind of confidence in? How does it affect your relationship to have that kind of trust?
4. “Because as long as you do what’s right, you won’t mind if everyone knows.” Even though Tom knows this is true, is it difficult to do this? What’s the right thing to do when you do mess up?
5. At one point Tom realizes, “whatever the truth turns out to be, it’s better to know than not to know. There’s no other way to live.” Do you believe that? Or do you ascribe more to the belief that ignorance is bliss? When has the truth been incredibly hard for you to hear? Were you ultimately glad you knew?
6. Karen Lee had known for a while that Dr. Cameron was providing illegal drugs to the football team but she was afraid to do anything about it. How difficult is it to stand up for the truth when you know there could be very real consequences such as the loss of a job or danger to yourself? Have you ever been in a situation like that?
7. Burt tells Tom, “Being the guy he made you—that’s the bigger game.” How do you play the bigger game in your life? What were you made to do?
8. Tom was so focused on Marie that he didn’t realize how much Lisa really cared about him. Have you ever missed out—or almost missed out—on something good because it wasn’t what you thought you wanted?
9. At the monastery Tom hears a voice tell him: “That’s your mission. Live. And don’t just live. Live in joy. Even in your sorrow, Tom, live in joy. That’s what I made you for. Remember the Warrior. Play the bigger game.” If you had been in Tom’s place, shot and dying in the monastery, would you have continued to fight? What would you have hung on to that was worth fighting—and living—for?