What does the author achieve by structuring the plot around Denny’s non-linear recollections, and how does this narrative style affect the novel’s suspense?

Although the novel handles several serious subjects, it contains many comedic moments. Identify the specific techniques Kennedy uses to create humor and analyze how they contribute to the novel’s mood and overall meaning.

How does The Sideways Life of Denny Voss compare and contrast to Kennedy’s other books, such as The Tin Box (2005) and The Silver Compass (2025)? What patterns can you identify in her choice of characters and themes across her works?

How does the novel connect Denny’s personal grief over Papa-Jo’s death to his response to the broader cultural trauma of American gun violence?

How does Angus’s cynicism function as both a protective shield for Denny and a source of conflict in their relationship?

To what extent does Lydia achieve redemption by the novel’s end, and what does her character arc suggest about the limits of atonement? Cite specific evidence from the text to support your argument.

Kennedy cites Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2003) as one of her inspirations for this novel. How does Denny’s narration compare to Christopher’s? What message do the two authors offer through their choice of narrative techniques?

After researching the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, how does Kennedy’s use of a fictional parallel event inform the novel’s exploration of The Trauma of Gun Violence?