Bubonic Panic: When Plague Invaded America traces one of the worst diseases in human history from its first mention in a message written in 542 in the Roman Empire to its crash landing on American shores during the turn of the 20th century. Pick 2 of 3: 1) Describe the writer’s tone and writing style. Point out that the author personifies the plague as “the killer” and refers to the victim as “you". What effect does that have on readers? 2) When plague broke out in the Chinatown section of San Francisco, many people suspected the plague was somehow connected to people of Asian heritage. What factors led people to think the disease had something to do with the victims’ heritage? What was the actual reason Chinatown was likely the place where bubonic plague came to America? 3) Over the years, what are some of the common reactions of human beings to the threat of an outbreak of bubonic plague or another pandemic? How have we seen these manifest during COVID-19?

The first part of the book introduce us to the narrator, Christopher, a brilliant 15-year-old with Autism who struggles to understand other people but possesses an ironclad ability to reason. When he stumbles onto the murder of a neighbor’s dog, he is hurled into the chaos of a situation he doesn’t know how to navigate. Pick 2 of 3 questions: 1) Math, science, and Sherlock Holmes have similarities. Suggest a few of them and explain why they appeal to Christopher. 2) Describe the author's tone, and how it relates to the protagonist, Christopher. Provide some examples. 2) When distressed, Christopher sometimes curls up in a ball and groans. Why does he do this? What other techniques does he use to calm himself in a crush of strangers? How do these techniques help him?

The first chapters serve to introduce the main characters and to begin sketching out a view of the dystopian world and society that they inhabit. Pick 2 of 3 questions: 1) Would you want to live in the world of Scythe? Why or why not? What do you see as the downsides and upsides of the Age of Immortality based on what you have read so far? 2) Why is such emphasis put on using the world “gleaning” instead of the word “killing,” given that the result is the same? Explain your answer. 3) Discuss the nature of fame and celebrity in the novel, and how various characters have used it so far. Provide specific examples.

The two opening sections of the book cover the beginnings of Woodson’s life, and also establish some of the book’s central themes. One of these themes is the meaning of home, and the pull of different homes in one family. Pick 2 of the 3 questions: 1) Jacqueline has a complicated bond with the South, where she spends her early childhood. What do you think she loves about it, and what do you think she finds difficult? Explain your answer. 2) Much about Woodson’s Jehovah’s Witness upbringing is constricting and isolating. She must follow a strict schedule of Bible studies, and cannot participate in many social activities and rituals. Do you think that there is anything about her religious upbringing that she appreciates, even so? How might it have shaped her identity? 3) How is Jacqueline different from Odella, her older sister? How are they similar? How do you think that the differences between them give Jacqueline strength?

This chapter introduces all the main characters and sets the stage for Selin’s story. It is structured around the episodic observations Selin makes about her experiences during her first semester at college. Pick 2 of 3 questions: 1) Do you think Selin would have had a different experience if she had started college now as opposed to in 1995? What is the significance of computers and the Internet for the story so far? Explain your answer. 2) Based on what we know about Selin so far, why do you think the opinion of others so important to her in certain situations when she consciously chooses not to conform to social norms in others? Explain your answer. 3) Why do you think Selin is obsessed with meaning and language? Do you agree with both Selin’s and her mother’s insistence that there must be one “real” meaning or truth in every text they read?

Growing up, the author repeatedly heard from her father that she was “no genius”. She would reply: “In the long run, Dad, grit may matter more than talent”. Pick 2 of 3 questions: 1) Describe Angela Duckworth's concept of "Grit" in your own words. How does it factor into your success in school and extracurriculars? 2) Identify a "gritty" project or adventure you could accomplish yourself or with friends and family this summer. List four attributes that make it "gritty" and describe each. 3) The author cites several people who demonstrate grit and have accomplished great things. Identify someone in your life who has grit and summarize an example of their perseverance.