Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Ana of California by Andi Teran

1. Lupe Saucedo knows that Ana's last foster situation was far from ideal, but she's unable to place her with another family. Should Lupe have taken Ana in herself? Does Lupe have Ana's best interests at heart?
2. On the ride home from the airport, Emmett warms to Ana after learning that she likes Neil Young. Later, Ana and Rye bond over their shared love of the band Hex. Music can be a powerful force that brings strangers together. Why might this be?
3. Why is Abbie so nervous when Ana arrives at the farm? Should Abbie have told Ana about Josie and why she left in order to prevent future misunderstandings?
4. What does Miranda's mistake about "Mexican Coke" say about her? Do Miranda's later actions redeem her initial treatment of Ana?
5. Ana's parents were gang members who were involved in illegal activities and eventually murdered by a rival gang. Even though Ana was just a young child, she fears that prison—or worse—is her "destiny." How do kids like Ana come to believe that they are criminals without even committing a crime?
6. Once the school year starts, Ana, Rye, and Brady are harassed by some of the popular kids and eat lunch together at "the official weirdo table" (p. 196). How well does the author capture the realities of being a teenager?
7. When Vic, Rolo, and Rene are tempted to leave the Garbers and begin working at the Keyserville farm for higher pay, it's Ana who convinces them to stay. Besides helping Emmett pay their full wages, how does Ana persuade them to change their minds?
8. Why does Abbie find it so difficult to believe that Will is interested in her romantically? Would their ages make any difference if Will were the older of the two?
9. What are some ways in which Ana is similar to the heroine of Anne of Green Gables? What are some ways in which she's different?
10. Besides Ana, who is your favorite character? What is it about him or her that appeals to you?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Penguin Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.