All the Ugly and Wonderful Things Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Age of Consent and our BookBrowse Review of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. From the first moment we meet Wavy, her life is filled with rules. Most are her mother's rules, but some are hers. What rules are holding Wavy back and which ones does she use to construct a sense of safety? How do the rules change as she grows up?


2. Wavy's fears and her efforts to resist fear are major themes in the story. How does the refrain "nothing left to be afraid of" guide Wavy's life?


3. More than once, it's remarked that the kitchen door of the farmhouse is unlocked, and Wavy points out that there isn't even a key to that door. On a practical level, what does it say about Wavy and the people around her that this door is never locked? As a metaphor, what does it tell us?

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