Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- How would the book change if it were written from a different perspective? Is anything left out or added by Sam telling us his own story in a laidback way?
- Why does Sam ask his mom to rate his life on a scale of 1 to 10? Do you agree with her assessment (7) or his (8)? Why don't they score higher or lower? How would you rate your own life?
- What's the deal with the time travel? Does Sam actually visit the future, or does he just imagine what it would be like? What does it teach him?
- How would the book be different without Tony Hawk? What does Tony Hawk help Sam do? Why? Would it change if his role were replaced with a friend or parent?
- Who or what makes a family in the book? Is a family made in a different way than a home? How?
- Do you think Sam and Alicia make the right decision to keep the baby and raise him? Why or why not? How does this impact the rest of their lives?
- We're told a lot about love and sex in the novel through different couples. Which couple (Alicia-Sam, Sam's parents, Alicia's parents, Sam's mom-Mark) is the most stable? Which is the happiest? Why?