Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel blends the high stakes of a caper with humor and the deep sorrow of a family’s grief. How did you feel about this tonal balance? Did it make the story more effective or feel disjointed for you?

2. How does this book compare to Frank Cottrell Boyce’s other work for young readers, like Cosmic? Do you see similar themes in how a child’s unique perspective interacts with the adult world?

3. What was your initial reaction to the bag of money falling from the train? Did you, like Damian, see it as a miracle, or did you, like Anthony, immediately think of the practical and dangerous implications?

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

1. Damian and Anthony have completely different ideas about what to do with the money, with Damian focused on charity and Anthony on investment. If you received a windfall, what would you do with the money? Whose perspective do you find yourself more aligned with?

2. From the beginning, Anthony impresses Damian with the need to keep their money a secret, even from their father. Do you believe that there are times when secrets are justified? If so, in what situations would you feel validated in a decision to keep a secret?

3. Damian’s faith gives him a structured way to process his grief, using the stories of saints as a moral roadmap. How do you use belief systems, hobbies, or personal philosophies to find meaning and order during difficult times?

4. Anthony frequently uses his mother’s death to manipulate situations to his advantage. Have you ever been in a situation where you used an emotional appeal like this to achieve a result you wanted?

5. Although Dad is committed to returning the money, after their home is ransacked, he changes his mind. Did you agree with his explanation for why he did it? In the same situation, what would you do?

6. The instruction to “be excellent” is interpreted very differently by Damian and his father. What does this advice mean to you? Do you find yourself more aligned with Damian or his father’s interpretation?

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

1. How does setting the story against the backdrop of the Euro changeover affect the narrative and explore larger ideas about how societies assign value to money?

2. The scene where the crowd descends on the house is both chaotic and revealing, recalling the desperation of the golden ticket hunt in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. What do you think this moment says about societal attitudes toward sudden wealth and desperation?

3. In what ways does the novel explore the role of faith in a modern, often secular world? How do you see its examination of faith and spirituality intersect with contemporary conversation on the topic?

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

1. How does Damian’s innocent, faith-filtered narration shape your understanding of the story’s events, particularly the more dangerous elements? How might the novel have been different if told from a third-person point of view, or from the perspective of another character?

2. The adults in the book, from Dad to Dorothy to the neighbors, are morally complex. How do their actions and compromises contribute to the novel’s exploration of the collision between childhood innocence and the adult world?

3. Discuss how the meaning of the trains that appear throughout the novel changes over the course of the story.

4. What is the symbolic purpose of Damian’s hermitage? How does its construction and its eventual destruction by the bag of money represent his inner journey?

5. Why do you think the author left Damian’s visions of saints ambiguous, allowing them to be read as either genuine miracles or products of his imagination? What does this ambiguity add to the story?

6. The ending culminates in Damian’s vision of his mother, who tells him that her miracle “was you.” How did you interpret this moment? Was it a fitting resolution to his spiritual and emotional journey?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Damian builds a hermitage from cardboard boxes to create a personal, sacred space. Design a hermitage for another character in the book, like Anthony or their father. What would it be made of, and what objects would be inside to reflect their personality and needs?

2. The family wallpapers a room with the remaining, now worthless, pound notes. Propose another creative project they could undertake with the money. What would they create, and what would it symbolize about their experience?

3. You’re put in charge of the remaining €20,345, with the goal of making a meaningful impact. Based on the lessons from the novel, what charitable project would you choose to fund and why?