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Discussion Questions

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These questions are designed to spark deep analysis and discussion for individuals or groups, ie., solo readers, book clubs, booktube. There is no right or wrong answer to these questions. Have fun.

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Some of the questions may imply spoilers for those who haven't finished the book.

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  1.        Why do you think William so easily became preoccupied with the lives of his captors?

  2.        Elijah made some puzzling choices in the last chapter. What do you think he was trying to do and to what end goal? Were William and Arete’s respective understandings of the situation correct? If not, what do you think they get wrong?

  3.        Is Elijah truly in love with Arete, or is he obsessed with her? Can he be both at the same time, or does one preclude the other?

  4.        Growing up, William was occasionally criticized by other Latinxs for being “too white,” and he took it to heart. Do you think he would be closer with his family if he didn’t feel ostracized by his own community, and how does his life of self-isolation factor into the story’s development?

  5.        Arete and Elijah are mutually codependent, with Arete controlling finances and expecting Elijah to make and approve decisions for her, both big and small. Judging by their pasts and what you know of their parents, why do you think each of them are okay with this arrangement? Can a relationship like this be sustainable?

  6.        Do you think William is intentionally lying to the reader about his sexuality, or do you think he’s in denial of being bisexual? Why? Along that vein, do you think William is unaware of his feelings for Elijah, or is he hiding them from the reader? Do you trust William as a narrator?

  7.        Despite being heterosexual, Elijah has a lot of gay and bisexual guyfriends. What do you think he gets out of these friendships that he can’t get out of straight men, or even women of any sexual orientation?

  8.        When it comes to the antagonists, Arete and Elijah, do you sympathize with one more than the other? If so, why?

  9.        If you were in William’s shoes, what would you have done differently?

  10.        If you took all of the red flags from #Arelijah, tied them together, and braided them into a noose, would they get the point?

  11.        The Schukyill and Delaware Rivers together provide Philadelphia with 230 million gallons of drinking water daily. Is that enough water to quench William’s tragic thirst?

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