Julie Chan Is Dead

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How effective was the book as satire? Did its critique of social media resonate with your experience?

2. Did you find Julie to be a sympathetic character? Did your feelings about her change over the course of the novel?

3. How would you characterize the novel in terms of genre? To whom would you recommend this book?

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

1. What experiences have you had with the world of social media influencers? Have these experiences been positive, negative, or both?

2. Julie both loves and hates her sister, Chloe. Have you ever had a relationship with a sibling or close friend that was ambivalent in this way? In your experience, what forces lead to rivalry and competition between siblings and close friends?

3. Julie makes a single decision (assuming her sister’s identity) that ends up having far reaching repercussions. Have you ever made a choice and only grappled with the consequences later? What are the risks associated with rash decisions?

4. Julie believes that she has no choice other than to kill the Belladonnas. Do you think this is a self-justifying belief? Have you ever felt that you had no other choice than to do something you believed was wrong?

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

1. How does the novel depict the relationship between privilege and success? What kinds of advantages make success as an influencer easer for some women than others?

2. How does Julie’s identity as a Chinese American woman shape her experiences in the novel? Is she ever able to utilize her cultural identity as an advantage?

3. Julie’s poverty is depicted as a motivating factor that leads her to make many morally questionable decisions. Do you think that individuals are more likely to engage in criminal or risky activity when they lack opportunities for economic and social mobility?

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

1. What is the impact of Julie acting as a first-person narrator? How would the novel be different with third person narration?

2. How does Zhang build mystery and suspense in the novel? Were you surprised by any of the plot twists?

3. Discuss the role of minor characters in the novel, such as Fiona, Angelique, or Viktor. How do minor characters contribute to developing key themes in the novel?

4. Did you find it believable that many people became sympathetic to Julie’s story after her escape from the island? Would you prefer for Julie to be punished or rewarded for her actions?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were adapted into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?

2. Imagine a follow-up novel describing the events of Julie’s trial. What would occur and what would the outcome be? How would Julie’s character continue to change or develop?