The Leaving

How do setting details inform and contribute to the story? What micro settings (e.g., Scarlett’s room, the RV, Opus 6) contribute most effectively to the tense mood and why?

After reacquainting amid the tragic circumstance of their father’s death, Lucas and Ryan treat one another in a chummy, brotherly way 15 days after Lucas’s return. Trace the rekindling of the brothers’ relationship throughout the novel. Which three events most clearly help to repair their renewed relationship and how?

How do the novel’s red herrings (false clues that lead characters and readers astray), such as the man with the Santa wrapping paper and the notes supposedly from Max, impact the reading experience?

Analyze the minor character of Goldie. What issues does her appearance raise? How does she develop Scarlett’s character and contribute to her character arc?

Consider the text images used to convey Scarlett’s reactions. How do these images contribute to her characterization?

Discuss the character of Louis Immerso, the perpetrator of the abduction and confinement. Consider some of his choices; for example, permitting one outstanding memory per child (Lucas’s carousel ride, Sarah’s playing with a puppy, etc.). How do these choices contribute to his character development? What do his intentions with Lola and the six kidnapped abductees suggest about him?

Trace Avery’s development over the course of the story. She initially comes across as a wiser-than-her-years teen who tends to her mother and steers her father’s actions. How does Avery show that she still has significant maturation to accomplish? What events most directly spark her coming-of-age?

Often adult characters in YA fiction play minimal, flat, static roles. Choose two to three adult characters in The Leaving that are developed into more complex, dynamic roles. How do these characters impact the teen protagonists throughout the story?