Examine the function of slam poetry beyond its role as a narrative device. What role does the performance of poetry play in Will and Lake’s character growth across the novel?

This Girl grounds its romance in the social reality of young adult guardianship. Analyze how the novel portrays the emotional and financial challenges of kinship care through Will’s experience, and discuss how this context nuances Hoover’s use of the forbidden romance trope.

Compare and contrast Will’s version of events in This Girl with Lake’s narrative in Slammed. What do the different perspectives reveal about the challenges of Reconciling with the Past to Build a Future?

Analyze how Will’s narration challenges or reinforces traditional notions of masculinity, particularly in his roles as a guardian, a lover, and an artist who expresses vulnerability through poetry. Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

How does the relationship between Gavin and Eddie serve as a narrative foil to the romance between Will and Lake? What does this contrast reveal about The Duality of Love as Both a Healing and Destabilizing Force?

Examine the function of secrets in the novel, focusing on Julia’s illness and Will’s hidden relationship with Lake. How do these secrets shape the characters’ motivations and actions?

How does the framing device of Will and Lake’s honeymoon impact Hoover’s ability to build suspense and narrative tension across the novel? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Hoover uses the forbidden romance trope as the primary source of conflict within the narrative. In what ways does she subvert or reinforce the power imbalance inherent in a teacher-student relationship?