Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Thinking about the story as a whole, what was your initial reaction to the way Lupica blends intense sports action with the deep, personal story of grief? Did you find that one aspect of the novel strengthened the other, and if so, how?

2. How does Last Man Out compare to other sports novels you might have read, including other works by Lupica like Heat (2006) or Travel Team (2004)? What makes this book’s exploration of loss and family stand out within its genre?

3. What was the most memorable scene for you? Was it a moment on the football field, a quiet family interaction, or something else entirely, and what made it stick with you?

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

1. Patrick’s mentorship is a constant guiding force for Tommy even after his death. Think about a mentor, coach, or family member whose lessons have stayed with you. How has their advice helped you navigate a challenge? What qualities do you think make someone an effective mentor?

2. For Tommy, skateboarding becomes an escape and a way to build an identity separate from his father’s legacy. Has there ever been a hobby or interest that felt entirely your own? What did that activity provide for you during a specific time in your life?

3. Tommy clearly feels the pressure of living up to his father’s heroic reputation. Think about a time when you felt the weight of expectations, whether from family, your community, or yourself. How did you navigate that pressure?

4. The rivalry between Tommy and Blake is intense and personal, especially when Blake taunts Tommy about his father. Does competition bring out different sides of your character? Share an example.

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

1. The novel is rooted in the specific culture of Boston firefighting. How does this setting, with its emphasis on brotherhood, risk, and duty, shape the characters’ values and their responses to Patrick’s death?

2. Patrick is celebrated as a public hero for his ultimate sacrifice. How does contemporary American society typically define and commemorate heroes, particularly those in civil-service professions? Does the story challenge or reinforce those ideas about heroism?

3. In the novel, Tommy and Emily cope with their father’s death in differing ways. What insights does the book offer about how to help people, particularly children, through the grieving process?

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

1. How does the language that the novel uses to describe skateboarding and football compare? What do you think Lupica is trying to communicate about each sport’s function for Tommy through these stylistic choices?

2. The author presents Tommy and Emily as foils. What role does their mother play in their dynamic? How does this shape your understanding of the novel’s message about grief and family bonds?

3. How does the motto “First one in, last one out” evolve throughout the story? Why do you think the author shortened it for the work’s title?

4. How does Tommy’s season-ending injury impact the resolution’s structure, mood, and meaning? How does the novel’s ending highlight Tommy’s growth over the course of the novel?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. You’re tasked with designing a small, personal memorial for Patrick to be placed at Rogers Park, the place where he coached Tommy. What elements would you include to honor both the firefighter and the father, and what message would you want to convey?

2. Put yourself in Coach Fisher’s shoes after Tommy fights Blake and gets ejected. What would you say to Tommy in the locker room to address his actions while also acknowledging the pain behind them?

3. What new family motto do you think Tommy and Emily might create for themselves by the end of the book? Point to specific moments in the story and lessons that the siblings have learned to explain your proposed motto.