53 pages • 1 hour read
The One-In-A-Million Boy
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Book Club Questions
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and child death.
General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How accurately does the author convey the complexities of tragedy, grief, and loss?
2. Which characters’ quirks and reactions resonated most strongly for you, and why?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Describe a time in your life when a person much older or younger than you had a lasting impact on the person you became.
2. Have you ever felt stuck in your life, like Ona and Quinn do? What pulled you out of this rut?
3. In what sense is navigating grief a lifelong experience, and how do people adapt to this challenging process?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.
1. How did events like World War I or the death of John F. Kennedy affect Ona’s personal life? How did these effects then ripple outward?
2. How does the author incorporate the monumental changes of an entire century into this deeply personal narrative?
3. Why do people feel the need to chase some form of immortality? Does Ona achieve this goal?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.
1. Did you agree with Quinn’s response to his son’s death? Why or why not? What pressures compel him to act in this way?
2. Why did the boy want to help Ona hear the bird songs again? What was his underlying motivation?
3. At what points do the dynamic between Ona and Quinn shift from distrust to respect and from respect to heartfelt friendship?
4. Why do Ona and Quinn remain friends in the end? What do they each provide for one another?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.
1. If you could pick one object to symbolize each character in the story, what would it be, and why?
2. Imagine that you are the boy. Make a detailed list about a niche topic that has always fascinated you.
3. Imagine that Ona does indeed live to break the age record. At this point in her life, what is she doing, and what has she accomplished in the intervening years?
4. If you could travel to any time or place discussed in the book, which would you choose, and why?
