Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Sea Is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt

1. Salt can be corrosive and damaging, but it can also be used to preserve things. With that in mind, what do you make of the book's title, The Sea Is Salt and So Am I? What are some examples of choices that Harlow, Ellis, and Tommy make that both hurt and help?
2. The story is told from multiple points of view. How did changes in the point of view shift your understanding of the characters and their relationships with each other? Why do you think the first and last chapters of the book don't focus on just one character?
3. At the end of chapter thirty-six, Ellis tells Harlow that when she tries to help, she makes things worse. What are some examples of things Harlow isn't able to fix, and what prevents her from fixing them?
4. The characters in this book often make the wrong choices for the right reasons. What's a wrong choice someone made in the book that you think was made for the right reason? Do you think the outcome of a choice is more important, or the reasoning behind it?
5. Tommy's depression is at its worst at the start of the book. Does his mental health constantly improve over the rest of the story, or are there setbacks? Does this feel realis­ tic, based on what you know about mental health? Why or why not?
6. West Finch is a fictional small town that is disappearing into the ocean. What role does this setting play in the book? Do you think it's believable that many of West Finch's resi­dents don't care about saving their town? Why or why not?
7. How did you interpret the ending? What do you think Harlow chose?

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