Bully

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying and child abuse.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you have any early theories about Jared and the reasons behind his bullying? How accurate were they?

2. How did you react to Tate’s shifting emotions and thought processes?

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

1. Can a person’s past experience with abuse fully excuse their own abusive actions in the present? Does Tate ever truly forgive Jared’s behavior?

2. What does the story suggest about The Cyclical Nature of Abuse? Have you ever witnessed the creation of a bully?

3. Why are Tate’s healthy relationships with her father and grandmother so important? How did the adults in your life affect your own experience of adolescence?

4. Have you ever experienced the challenges of a friendship or romantic relationship, just as Jared and Tate do?

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

1. Does the book create a realistic portrayal of the reasons for (and consequences of) bullying in today’s world? Why or why not?

2. How do Tate’s experiences reflect the biases of small-town culture and the unique issues that arise in a place where everyone is connected?

3. How does the high school act as a microcosm for greater societal issues?

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

1. Why is Tate so conflicted about Jared, and how is this inner conflict shown through her narration?

2. Why are adults largely absent from the story, and how does this choice impact the believability of the narrative?

3. How does Douglas use the medium of literature to create a safe space for exploring controversial ideas?

4. What events change Tate’s opinion of Jared, and what finally draws them together?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Why is the subgenre of dark romance so difficult to adapt for film or television? What changes might be made to the plot and overall themes if Bully were to be adapted for the screen?

2. If you were creating a movie trailer or brief summary of the story to draw in an audience, which scenes would you feature, and why?

3. Assign each major character their own theme song, complete with an explanation of your choices.

4. What do you predict might happen in the novel’s sequel? Do you plan to read it? Why or why not?

5. How might the story change if it were written from Jared’s point of view? Create a diary entry or short chapter based on his perspective.