Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your experience reading this novel-in-verse? How did the poetic form, with its short chapters and focus on imagery, shape your connection to Sage’s emotional journey through grief and guilt?

2. Sage’s story shares thematic similarities with other young adult novels that explore grief and identity. How does All the Blues in the Sky compare to other books you’ve read in the genre, such as Jacqueline Woodson’s novel-in-verse, Brown Girl Dreaming (2014)? What makes Watson’s approach to these topics feel unique?

3. At the book’s end, Sage is faced with the new, impending loss of Aunt Ini, yet her reaction is one of resilience. Did you find this conclusion hopeful, heartbreaking, or a combination of both? How did it make you feel about Sage’s growth?

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

1. Aunt Ini offers a personal perspective on loss, explaining that Sage will miss Angel forever but that the memory will eventually bring comfort. How did you react to this idea of grief as a lifelong companion rather than something to “get over”? Does this view resonate with your own experiences of love and loss?

2. For Sage, the grief group is a complicated space where she initially feels that her pain is not understood by everyone. Think about a time you’ve sought support from a group. What makes a community feel truly safe and validating, and what can create barriers to connection, as it did for Sage with Ana and Zay?

3. The novel illustrates that happiness and sadness can exist at the same time, particularly when Kofi enters Sage’s life. Have you ever had to navigate similarly conflicting emotions? What does Sage’s journey teach us about giving ourselves permission to feel joy even in difficult times?

4. Mentors like Ms. Carver, Aunt Ini, and Ms. Barbara offer Sage different kinds of wisdom to navigate her grief. Think about your own life: Has a mentor ever provided you with a key piece of advice or a new way of thinking that helped you through a challenge? Which of Sage’s mentors did you connect with most?

5. Kofi becomes a compassionate listener for Sage, in part because he never knew Angel. Why is it sometimes easier to share a difficult story with someone who is outside of the immediate situation? Discuss a time when you have seen this in your own life.

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

1. The story is deeply rooted in the cultural geography of Harlem, using real locations like Morningside Park and the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Plaza. How does this specific, vivid setting contribute to the story’s themes of community and resilience? What does it say about the relationship between personal healing and public space?

2. The novel touches on different forms of traumatic loss, contrasting Angel’s accidental death with the murder of DD’s brother, Nathan, by the police. In what ways does the book explore the intersection of private sorrow and systemic injustice? How does the community’s memorial for Nathan highlight this connection?

3. Why do you think the author chose to include the story of Bessie Coleman, the pioneering aviator? What does Coleman’s legacy of overcoming systemic racism and sexism offer Sage as she navigates her personal storm of grief?

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

1. The novel suggests that grief is not a linear process with clear stages. How does the book’s structure, with its fragmented, non-chronological feel, reinforce this central theme of the nonlinear nature of grief?

2. Angel never gets to tell her own story directly. How much can readers trust Sage’s memories of their friendship, particularly while Sage is consumed by guilt? Does the birthday letter confirm the Angel we have already come to know, or does it change your understanding of her? Explain.

3. Watson repeatedly draws language from areas that might seem unrelated to grief—geometry, aviation, weather, color, food, and even grammar. Which comparison or image did you find most effective? Was there one that did not work for you? What makes a metaphor for grief convincing rather than sentimental?

4. Choose a short chapter from the novel that stayed with you. What does its brevity accomplish that a longer explanation might not?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Sage creates a powerful memorial for Angel by writing her name repeatedly, like a “passenger manifest.” If you were to design a tribute for someone or something important you’ve lost, what form would it take? What symbols or words would you use to honor that memory?

2. Imagine the grief group meeting one year after the end of the novel. What do you think would have changed between Sage, Ebony, DD, Ana, and Zay? More importantly, what might not have changed, and why?

3. Imagine you are Ms. Carver, and you’re planning the next session for the grief group after the book ends. What topic or activity would you introduce to help the girls continue to support each other, especially with the new knowledge of Aunt Ini’s illness?