Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie

1. What is Skye's responsibility to Vicky when they first meet? What initially motivates Skye to pursue a relationship? How does this change over time?
2. Skye seems to have a love-hate relationship with Philadelphia. What complicates her feelings?
3. How does gentrification affect the characters in the novel?
4. "Chosen families," or groups of friends who fill the family role for each other, are important for many queer people—and for anyone who has felt unsupported (or worse) by their biological family. Who is in Skye's chosen family at the beginning of the novel? What about at the end? Who do you consider yours?
5. In a conversation with Viva about who would take care of her if she got sick, Skye says, "People take care of their parents, partners, and kids and that's it." Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
6. What are the roots of Skye's issues with her mother? Do you think her mother deserves forgiveness?
7. How does Vicky help Skye come to terms with her past?
8. Skye spent much of her past (and spends some of her present) "testing" people to see whether they truly care about her. What makes her do this, even unconsciously? How does she finally come to understand this?
9. Although Viva can see Skye's shortcomings as a friend, she sticks by her. Tasha and Skye, on the other hand, are no longer friends. How do you know when it's time to walk away from a friendship? How do you know when you need to stay?
10. Viva tells Skye, "Nostalgia is good for us." Do you agree? How do we balance appreciating the past and living in it or dwelling on it?
11. How do Skye's friends and family help fill gaps in her memories of the past? How have your friends and family helped remind you of things you've forgotten?
12. A major theme of Skye Falling is the importance of community. Discuss the different communities in the novel, and how the members support each other. Do you think people need community to survive?
13. Do you think it was Skye's responsibility to tell Faye about Nick? If so, when do you think she should have done it?
14. How has each character changed by the end of the novel?

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