Discuss the novel’s use of tone. How does Dumas navigate satire and tragedy within his writing? Does the novel necessarily lean toward one over the other?

How does Dumas use the novel’s fragmented structure, including blog posts and investigative reports, to manipulate the reader’s judgment of Emmett’s actions?

Discuss the recurring setting of the Museum of Us as a site of irony and a critique of institutions that champion inclusivity. How does the museum undermine its own mission and unwittingly promote exclusion?

Comment on the novel’s exploration of revenge as a motivation for violence. Are the characters who want revenge, such as Dr. Saito, justified in their actions? Why or why not?

Hank claimed to abuse Emmett because he cared for him. How is his reasoning emblematic of older sociocultural views on care toward people who have been pushed to the margins of society?

How do Lizette and Dr. Saito represent opposing responses to systemic fatphobia? What does the novel suggest about the efficacy of each path?

How does Emmett’s constant search for the “true [him]” reflect contemporary views on identity and embodiment? Are people necessarily their bodies in this day and age? Why or why not?

Discuss the novel’s critique of social media. How does social media engender Emmett’s loneliness and need for validation, rather than satisfy them?