All That's Left in the World

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Compare this novel to a post-apocalyptic book like The Road (2006) by Cormac McCarthy or The Dog Stars (2012) by Peter Heller. What do these novels teach you about the resilience of humanity? The importance of personal connection?

2. What emotion did you feel most prominently while reading the book? Was it fear, happiness, hope, sadness, or something else altogether? Why did you feel this way? Discuss how these feelings compare to how you felt when reading other post-apocalyptic novels.

3. How well did the novel balance emotional connection and fear/danger? Which would you have liked to have seen more of?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Imagine you were alive in the world of All That’s Left in the World. How do you feel you would have handled the emotional trauma of surviving a pandemic? What character would you most resemble?

2. If you were in Andrew and Jamie’s positions, how would you try to survive? Would you try to stay isolated or find a community? What about your personality or beliefs makes you feel this way?

3. Who in your life would you want with you if you were in a dangerous situation? How does your relationship with them reflect The Value of Human Connection?

4. Do you or disagree with the idea of a Shifting Morality in the Face of Death? Why? Do the experiences of Andrew and Jamie impact your feelings at all? Discuss why or why not.

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What structures of power and control are shown in the novel? What does this say about our real-world systems of power? Do you believe the societies shown in the novel offer realistic portrayals of what would exist if society collapsed?

2. How does the novel portray gender? Describe how Andrew, Jamie, Henri, and Cara fulfill or subvert traditional gender roles.

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How do Andrew and Jamie serve as foils to each other? In what ways do their contrasting traits reveal different strategies for survival? How does Brown use these contrasts to dramatize the theme of Shifting Morality in the Face of Death?

2. How does Brown’s use of alternating first-person narration shape the reader’s experience? Consider how dramatic irony, shifting sympathies, and gaps in knowledge build tension. What effect does this structure have on the development of romance and trust between the two protagonists?

3. Community is both a refuge and a threat in the novel. Compare how the boys experience safety in Henri’s home versus control in Fort Caroline. How does Brown use these contrasting communities to explore the theme of The Value of Human Connection as both necessary and perilous?

4. Minor characters like Cara, Henri, and Amy each function as mirrors for Andrew and Jamie’s choices. How do these characters complicate the protagonists’ understanding of morality, trust, and survival? What symbolic or thematic role do they play beyond simple plot advancement?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Discuss how the second part of the novel could have been different if it was told from Cara’s point of view. Choose one specific scene and rewrite it from her perspective.

2. Because music is an important motif in the novel, create a playlist for the text. Choose five important scenes and assign a different song to each. Explain why you chose these songs and how you feel they reflect each moment.