Using Holder’s tattoo, define how his character changes through his experiences with Sky. How does the concept of being “hopeless,” as it applies to Holder, change? Given that Holder’s experiences will shape this novel’s sequel, does his character feel incomplete?

Examine the character of Karen Davis. What she does is illegal and yet the right thing to do. Review her explanation to Sky in Chapter 52. Is doing the wrong thing sometimes the right thing?

The book uses frank depictions of teenage love and the power of sheer physical attraction. What does the novel argue is the relationship between teenage love and grown-up love? How does the word “live,” which Holder and Sky coin, offer the novel’s insight into the power of first love?