Specials

What is the difference between being special and being a “Special” in the novel? How does Tally embody both traits, and how does each burden her? What does it mean when she embraces both a unique life path and her Special abilities at the novel’s end?

What is the significance of the wild for Tally? Why might she have dedicated her life following the events of the story to preserving nature? How does this impact the message of the story overall?

Why do the authorities, especially in Tally’s city, fear autonomy and individual expression? Is this society presented as better, worse, or equal to Diego’s, wherein people have more freedom, but Specials are forcefully put through surgeries and the city expands into the wild?

How are the Cutters distinct from other Specials? What is their purpose? They are frequently compared to animals: How does this influence their characters and the novel’s themes?

Why does Tally engage in the practice of self-harm? What do her tattoos and scars symbolize, and what does it mean when she decides to stop cutting?

Compare and contrast the Smokies, Villagers, and city-dwellers. Why are the first two groups feared by the authorities? What is the impact of referring to them by these names instead of as people?

How does technology function in this dystopian society? Does technology benefit or damage Tally’s society? Use at least two distinct examples for support.

Do the various central characters—Shay, Tally, Dr. Cable, David—achieve redemption in the end? Do they need to? How do their last scenes or actions in the novel align with their individual character arcs?