Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel uses a mixed-media format, weaving together verse, screenplay excerpts, and news articles to tell its story. How did this collage of styles affect your reading experience? Did it make the story feel more urgent and immersive, or did you find it distracting at times?

2. What was your reaction to the central conspiracy involving the theft of the Eldorado River?

3. Away is a companion novel to Megan E. Freeman’s Alone, which tells the story of Maddie, a girl accidentally left behind. How did knowing that Maddie’s story was unfolding simultaneously change your perspective on the events at Camp Rogers and the experiences of the four protagonists?

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

1. The adults in the camp largely fall into a state of passive acceptance, which Ashanti compares to that of the “Lotus Eaters” in Homer’s Odyssey. Think about a time you’ve seen people either acclimate to disempowerment or resist. What do you believe drives people to choose one response over the other?

2. Each of the four protagonists has a singular vocation that drives their activism: Harmony’s journalism, Teddy’s filmmaking, Ashanti’s medical ambitions, and Grandin’s connection to his ranch. What vocations or passions are similarly grounding for you?

3. Ramón advises Grandin to choose hope over worry. What role does hope play in the characters’ ability to persevere through nearly two years of confinement? Have you ever had to make a conscious choice to be hopeful in a challenging situation?

4. The kids form a “found family” that becomes essential to their survival and success. How have relationships with friends or allies helped you navigate difficult times in your own life?

5. Why do you think sharing their vulnerabilities during the “Glinda’s Crystal Ball” game was such a crucial step in cementing the group’s trust and alliance?

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

1. The novel grounds its plot in the very real-world issue of water scarcity in the American West. How does the novel comment on the commodification of a vital resource?

2. What does the novel suggest about the power of citizen journalism in an era where misinformation can spread so quickly?

3. How does the story explore the relationship between state control and individual freedom? Where did you see the line between necessary protection and authoritarian overreach blur in the government’s actions, like confiscating phones and enforcing curfews?

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

1. The novel is narrated from the alternating perspectives of four very different characters. How did this multi-perspective approach shape your understanding of the events and the community at Camp Rogers? Did you have a favorite narrator?

2. What is the significance of the recurring Wizard of Oz motif throughout the story?

3. Teddy’s discovery of the CGI in the official footage brings to mind other stories where media is used to manipulate the public, like the novel The Hunger Games. In what ways does Away explore the theme that seeing isn’t always believing, especially when information comes from an official source?

4. How does Freeman use the verse format for characters like Ashanti and Grandin to convey their inner thoughts and emotions?

5. What does the “Emerald City” hut come to symbolize for the kids as their investigation deepens? How does it transform from a simple hideout to the heart of their resistance?

6. The epilogue reveals the future professions of all four protagonists. What are your thoughts on this narrative choice?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were tasked with creating a new issue of the Camp Rogers Gazette after the conspiracy was revealed, what kind of stories would you feature? How would you help the community process their experience and look toward the future?

2. Imagine you’re Grandin planning to rebuild the family ranch after returning home. What is one new practice or idea you might introduce?

3. You’ve been asked to design a memorial for the “stolen years” of the evacuation. What form would your memorial take?