Age 16 Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, How Mothers Affect Daughters' Body Image and our BookBrowse Review of Age 16.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Age 16 can be described as a generational story. What do you think this means and how does it enhance the relationships and themes of the graphic novel?
2. The women in each generation face daunting moments at age 16: pregnancy, single parenthood, traveling solo to foreign countries, and dealing with the desire to fit in in a weight-and-beauty-obsessed culture. What are the similarities and differences comparing these to current teenage moments?
3. Flashback moments show up in black-and-white and muted tones. How do these moments help the reader enhance readers' understanding of a character?

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