Book club questions

for TRACES

  1. Why are Aiden and Cole drawn to one another? What’s keeping them apart? Do you think it makes sense for them to fall in love?

  2. Both Aiden and Cole are survivors of trauma and abuse. Think of ways in which their experiences differ and ways in which they are similar.

  3. Aiden is an unreliable narrator. Think of different (groups of) people she’s lying to. Try to explain why.

  4. 
Traces revolves around memory, identity, and trust. How are these three themes interconnected? How do they influence the stories of Cole, Aiden, Layla, and others?

  5. 
The little house is a refuge for Aiden, and Cara and Donovan become her found family. Think of the different shapes that families in Traces take. What ties each family together? What problems does each family face? Which family would you most like to be a part of?

  6. 
Chance, the Big Bad, only appears at the end. Who are the antagonists that are more present throughout the story? Whose actions shape the course of Aiden’s and Cole’s lives?

  7. While Aiden’s and Cole’s stories are at the center of the novel, many of the other characters have their own struggles. Whose story spoke to you the most? Whose story ought to have been told in more detail?

  8. Standing up for one’s friends is usually considered a good thing, but when Aiden stands up for Layla, Layla is upset. Why? Have you ever been in a similar situation?

  9. 
How do Aiden and Cole (but also Donovan, Cara, Layla, Jaleela, and others) defy stereotypes and expectations? Think of gender roles, ethnicity, religion, social status, and mental health. Why are some characters written as more (stereo)typical?

  10. Why does Aiden stay friends with Mark for so long? Think of the friendships in the novel. Which of them are healthy? Which of them are toxic?

  11. Aiden’s and Cole’s thoughts are rendered in brackets. Cole’s language is riddled with dashes. What do these elements represent and add to the story? When you write, what punctuation mark, letter, symbol, or word do you use more frequently than other people?

  12. 
Aiden uses stories to make sense of her life. Has a story — in a book or movie, or told to you by someone — ever impacted you the same way?
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