Reminders of Him

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

1. Have you ever been in a situation like Kenna’s, in which you did some irreconcilable wrong that you couldn’t take back? How did you handle it?

2. Given what you know about the characters, what do you feel is the healthiest setting for Diem to be raised in? Who is the most beneficial guardian, and why?

3. Several characters learn to disconnect from toxic, damaging memories. What lessons can we take from this novel when navigating our own difficult pasts?

4. Did you find Kenna and Ledger’s romance convincing? Why or why not?

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

1. What is the novel’s attitude towards the legal justice system? Is it presented as something ultimately positive, negative, or impersonal?

2. What role does community play in the development of the novel? How might this story have been different if it were set in a larger city?

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

1. Compare the ways in which different characters manage grief, both consciously and unconsciously. What do these approaches imply about each character?

2. How does Hoover create a detailed characterization of Scotty when this character is not physically present in the narrative?

3. Kenna and Ledger both have unusual, evocative names with hidden meanings. How do other characters in the novel also embody the meaning of their names? 

4. Kenna’s town demonizes her because doing so gives them a focus point for their grief. What are the repercussions of this collective choice?

5. What do Kenna’s letters symbolize? What is their role in the narrative?