Pop

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your overall impression of Pop? Which aspects of the narrative did you find most engaging or relatable?

2. Have you read other novels that focus on athletic competition, such as Carrie Soto is Back or Icebreaker? How did Pop compare?

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

1. Despite his progressive dementia, Charlie finds a stable sense of identity in football. What activities, passions, or communities contribute to your sense of who you are?

2. Chelsea’s role as her father’s primary caregiver exhausts her and strains their relationship. Have you ever taken on caregiving responsibilities for a loved one? How did it affect your relationship with that person?

3. Marcus initially sees Troy as a jealous rival, and only later understands the complicated feelings underlying his hostility. Have you ever misunderstood the reasons behind an interpersonal conflict? How did you learn the truth?

4. The novel highlights the importance of first-hand experience. What’s something in your life that you feel can only be fully understood through direct experience?

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

1. How does Pop comment on the culture of youth sports in North America, and particularly on the culture of American football? Does it suggest a need for reform in the sport?

2. How accurately does the novel represent the experiences of people with CTE and other forms of dementia? Does it sometimes place the needs of the narrative ahead of realism in depicting these illnesses?

3. What does the book reveal about the availability of resources for those caring for loved ones with dementia? How easy is it for Charlie’s family to access meaningful support? Does this reflect reality?

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

1. Track Marcus’s character arc through his relationship with being tackled on the football field. How does Marcus grow as his feelings toward physical contact change? What messages about fear does the novel send through how Marcus comes to terms with the physical side of football?

2. Consider Korman’s structural choice to intersperse the narrative with sections from Charlie’s perspective. Does this enhance the story and increase the reality of Charlie’s situation? Would the novel have been as effective without these sections? Why or why not?

3. How does the hawk function as a symbol in the novel? What does it represent to Charlie, and is this different from what it represents to Marcus?

4. Does Troy serve as a foil to Marcus? What character traits do they have in common, and how do their differences highlight these commonalities?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If Pop were adapted into a film, which actors would you cast as Marcus, Charlie, Troy, Chelsea, and Alyssa? Why?

2. Imagine the induction ceremony scene from Charlie’s first-person point of view. What would he see, hear, and feel? How would he make sense of his experience?

3. Create a list of songs for the soundtrack to Pop, noting which songs would play in specific scenes.