1. What are the social attitudes today regarding unwanted pregnancy? How have these attitudes changed since the 1950s?
2. What do you think this change in attitude says about our society?
3. Do you think Julie should have told Farrel about her pregnancy?
4. For many years adoption records were sealed and birth mothers could not find out who had adopted their children; neither could adopted children get information about their birth mothers. Today, in some states, adoption records are available for adopted persons when they reach age 18. In your opinion, should adoption records be available to both birth parents and the adopted children?
5. What do you think Julie should do about her child?
6. Confirmation bias is the tendency to accept evidence that confirms our beliefs and expectations and to reject evidence that contradicts them. How does this phenomenon work with regard to Carmen and Julie changing places? What does their scheme of switching places reveal about the observations and perceptions of people around them?
7. Research shows that many people resemble each other, whether or not they are related. What do you think of the girls’ changing places? In Carmen and Julie’s world, it works; would it work in the world today?
8. When Julie agrees to change places with Carmen, does she open herself up to any dangers? What are the risks?
9. If there had been such a thing as social media back in the 50s, do you think it would have made it easier or more difficult for Julie and Carmen to change places?