Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Compare Beth Is Dead to Little Women. What elements of the original story are preserved? What is changed or subverted? Which novel do you prefer, and why?

2. Which characters do you most relate to, and why?

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

1. The March sisters are all keeping secrets, even from each other. Consider their reasons for keeping secrets and the impact this has on the investigation and the people around them. Does reflecting on your own experience of adolescence influence your attitude toward the March sisters? Alternatively, what kinds of forces have motivated you to keep a secret—for better or for worse?

2. Explore how the concepts of forgiveness and redemption fit into the narrative. What acts do you consider unforgivable? What circumstances might lead you to change your mind about forgiving someone?

3. Amy says, “I’ve been waiting years for Laurie to see me, really see me” (86). However, just a few moments later, she notes, “I’d rather lose Laurie than let him see who I really am” (87). Have you ever felt conflicted about letting others see the “real” you? Where did that ambivalence come from, and how did you handle it?

4. Meg concludes that it was fans, not her father, who made her a stereotype. How do you engage with literature (or other forms of art or entertainment)? Do you feel you have any “responsibilities” as a consumer of content?

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

1. Analyze Rob’s intentions with Little Women and the accusations made against him by critics and protesters. How does this controversy compare to historical and contemporary attitudes about literature’s role in society?

2. Discuss how the narrative portrays family dynamics, including things like conflict resolution, communication, honesty, rituals and traditions, rules, and fairness. How does this portrayal compare with Little Women’s vision of family life, and what does this reflect about society and the ways it has changed since the 19th century?

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

1. Discuss how narrative structure and point of view influence readers’ perception of important but ambiguous secondary characters like Rob March and Sallie Gardiner.

2. Compare the relationships between Beth and Henry, Amy and Fred, and Meg and Sallie. What do they have in common, how do they differ, and what significance does this hold?

3. Analyze how each March sister’s sense of identity is influenced by Little Women’s portrayal of her and by the public’s reaction to the novel. How does the use of metafictional elements further develop the implications of such influence?

4. How does the narrative communicate its ideas about class consciousness and conflict? What message about class or socioeconomic status does the text convey?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Jo realizes that she doesn’t know everything about her sisters, as she once thought, and concludes: “We all have our secrets—surely Beth had some too” (352). Imagine a secret that Beth might have been keeping, and write a short scene of dialogue in which her sisters discover the truth.

2. Family rituals have both positive and negative implications in the novel. Create a collage that depicts a ritual in your family, friend group, or workplace. Explain the images or words in your collage to the group and share a story about the ritual.