We Are Not Like Them

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism and illness or death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. We Are Not Like Them was co-written by Christine Pride, a Black author, and Jo Piazza, a white author. What impact did this collaborative authorship have on the authenticity of the different viewpoints on race portrayed in the novel?

2. Riley and Jenny are both presented as alternating first-person narrators in the story. Did one of their perspectives resonate more strongly with you?

3. In what ways does this novel compare to other works exploring racial tensions, such as Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give or Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Riley and Jenny’s friendship spans decades but faces its greatest test when confronted with racial issues they’ve never directly addressed. Do you have a friendship in your life that has survived significant challenges? How did you manage to maintain the friendship through these challenges?

2. Jenny reflects on times she remained silent when witnessing racism, acknowledging she was “betraying Riley with my silence” (40). Have you ever witnessed a significant injustice as it was happening? If you did not speak up, do you regret staying silent?

3. The characters experience different forms of grief throughout the novel. Which character’s experience with loss felt most relatable to you?

4. Do you see any similarities between your personal relationships and the complicated friendship that Riley and Jenny navigate?

5. Riley struggles to share her experiences as a Black woman with the white people in her life. What aspects of your identity have been difficult to communicate to others?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel draws parallels between Kevin’s and Shaun’s legal consequences, highlighting disparities in the justice system. What statements is the novel making about accountability in our legal institutions?

2. What responsibilities do journalists like Riley have when covering racist incidents in their communities?

3. Consider the novel’s portrayal of police culture, particularly the emphasis on loyalty. How does the story reflect broader societal debates about police reform?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How do the authors use symbolism (like the childhood nicknames “Pony” and “Puff”) to illustrate racial dynamics in the story?

2. Silence is a significant motif in the novel. What message does the book convey about avoiding difficult conversations?

3. Think about the alternating perspectives in the novel. How did the authors’ choice to bookend Riley and Jenny’s alternating first-person narratives with Justin’s perspective in the Prologue and Tamara’s in the Epilogue impact the story?

4. Consider the ways that Riley and Jenny change throughout the novel. How do the authors show character development in the two friends?

5. How does the Philadelphia setting contribute to the story’s themes and conflicts beyond serving as a simple backdrop?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to write an additional chapter set five years after the novel’s conclusion, what would have changed for the main characters?

2. Imagine you are producing a film adaptation of We Are Not Like Them. Which scenes would be most powerful visually?

3. Create an alternative ending of the story. How could you offer both hope and realism while acknowledging the continuing issues of racial injustice?

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