In an Instant

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of death and ableism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What effect did Finn’s unique narrative perspective as someone observing her family from beyond death have on your reading experience?

2. Which character’s journey following the accident resonated with you most powerfully and why?

3. How does Redfearn’s exploration of family dynamics in In an Instant compare to other novels with posthumous narrators, such as Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones?

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

1. Ann and Jack process grief differently: Ann removes all reminders while Jack keeps their belongings. Which approach aligns more closely with how you process difficult experiences?

2. In an Instant delves deeply into the idea of family and the bonds that exist between members. What moments in the novel made you reflect on your own family bonds?

3. Mo uses abandoned kittens to help pull Chloe back from despair. When has someone reached out to you in an unexpected way during a difficult time?

4. If you were in the camper after the accident, what choices might you have made differently from the characters?

5. Discuss which character in the book you identified with most strongly. Why do you think you connected with that character? Are there any points on which you diverge from the character’s perspective or ideas?

6. The Miller family ultimately finds healing despite tremendous loss. What personal strategies have helped you overcome significant challenges in your own life?

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

1. Consider the novel’s exploration of societal and cultural understandings of disability. What does the novel suggest about society’s support systems for families caring for individuals with developmental disabilities?

2. The book explores how different people respond during crisis situations. What cultural factors might influence how we judge others’ behavior in life-or-death circumstances?

3. Bob’s arrest raises questions about legal versus moral responsibility. Do you think  the justice system should make allowances for decisions made under extreme duress?

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

1. How does Redfearn use the structure of 94 short chapters to develop the plot and characters?

2. Analyze the significance of Aubrey’s wedding as both the opening and closing frame of the novel.

3. The cabin represents both healing potential and tragedy for the Miller family. What does this dual symbolism contribute to the story?

4. Discuss the role that Kyle plays in the narrative beyond his immediate involvement in the accident. How does he contribute to other aspects of the novel, including thematic meaning?

5. Finn remains tethered to the living world until her loved ones find peace. What does this supernatural element add to the novel’s exploration of grief?

6. Compare the portrayal of the Gold family with the Miller family. What does this contrast reveal about the theme of healing?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Choose one character and write a chapter from their point of view. Who did you choose, and why? How does it change your understanding of the themes of the story? 

2. Imagine that you meet Chloe five years after the novel ends. Write a short scene in which you interview her. What might her life look like? What questions would you ask her?

3. Redfearn based parts of the novel on her own childhood experience of being stranded in a blizzard. Choose an incident from your own history and sketch out a story based on it.

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