Week 4: Passage Person

We see a lot happen with Adam this section, but I'd like to focus more on Teddy and Kim and only a little on Adam. The first quote I'd like to discuss is about Kim and Mia's friendship. I feel like every friend ship has funny quirks like this.

Do you have a friendship like this that you can relate to? Do you think the world isreally divides like they say?

Next I want to talk a little more about 

Adam. We learned a lot more about her true feelings about him. 

Do you think Adam and Mia are just in puppy love? Or is is the real thing? Do you think he should sway her choice whether she stay or go?

Lastly, I'd like to talk more about Teddy. We find out that he too is gone. 

Do we know for sure that Teddy is gone, or could it just be a bad assumption? Do you have a younger sibling or friend you can relate this to? 

Week 4: The Connector

In this section Mia mentions the different types of people and what categories they fall under, "There are people who like classical music. People who like pop. There are city people. And country people. Coke drinkers. Pepsi drinkers. There are conformists and freethinkers . . . people who drank plain coffee and people who drank gussied-up caffeine drinks . . ." (108, 110). It's an insignificant part of the book but I think it made it more fun. It lightened up the mood. I connected to this though because, of course, I fell into a category for each one given. I consider myself a pepsi drinking freethinker city girl who happens to like poppier music and gussied up caffeine drinks. It is a simple connection but its all I could relate to in this section and I think it works. Do you relate or connect to this? Which categories do you fall in? Did you connect to anything else in this section? Is there any categories given that you cannot really choose?

Week 4: Discussion Leader

In less than 60 pages, we find out a lot about Mia, Kim, Adam, and Teddy, and are introduced to new characters in the process.

1. In this section, Mia describes the relationship between Adam and Kim. Mia wants them to be friends, but they both come from different parts of Mia's life. Although the both love Mia, they just don't blend with each other. However, when Adam wants (and has) to see Mia, he teams up with Kim, and they work really well together. Mia talks a little bit about her feelings toward this, but what do you think goes through her head when she sees them working together? Has this occurred in your life, when two people from different parts of your life love you, but don't mesh with one another? If so, how do you feel about it? Are Mia's feelings natural?

2. We also see Adam's attempt to see Mia, and we find out that he can be very determined when he wants something. Why do you think that is? Is there something about Adam that we might not know (yet)?

3. Mia comes to what might be a realization in this section: that Teddy is likely dead. Do you think Teddy dies?

4. Mia talks about music camp and how she always though the cello was a solitary instrument. But then, Mia actually makes friends at this music camp. This makes me think that Mia is the type of person who would rather have a few really good friends, as opposed to a lot of friends, who were really just acquaintances. Do you agree? Would you rather have just a few, really close friends, or a lot of acquaintances, and why?

Week 3: Passage Person

In this section, we are shown a turning point in Mia and Adam's relationship. In addition, Mia makes more discoveries about her injuries, time in the hospital, and power to decide her fate. The first passage that I picked is:

This is the first moment Mia realizes that she has power over how things will turn out. In addition to this, I picked:

This is the first real choice Mia is faced with. What would you do? Would you join your parents, or would you stay for your brother and boyfriend? Would you have as much trouble deciding as Mia?

Another section that stood out to me was the part about Adam's concert on Halloween. The passage reads:

This is the first time Mia has actually enjoyed one of Adam's concert (and probably one of the first times she's actually made as much of an effort to enjoy Adam's interests, as he made to enjoy her interests). Mia even wants to stay longer, and tells Adam:

What do you think sparked this change in Mia? Did it have anything to do with her halloween costume? Or do you think it had to do entirely with her experience?

Lastly, I want to point out a phrase that I have actually quoted a lot:

Are there any times that you have had to "fake it till you make it?" If so (and if comfortable sharing), what?

Week 3: Discussion Leader

1. After the social worker leaves Gran and Gramps alone with Mia, a nurse come in and reassures them that Mia is aware of everything that is going on so they should encourage Mia to come back but take as much time as she needs. How do you think the nurse knows all this information? Do you think she went through a situation similar to Mia's? Do you think the nurse's information comforted Mia's grandparents or just made them uncomfortable?

2. Regarding the nurse's information, do you think she is correct? If so, which option you think Mia will choose, live or move on, and why? If she chooses to stay, what do you think will be different (other than the obvious differences like her parents being gone)?

3. Mia's Halloween costume brought out a whole new personality that she did not recognize as her own. Do you agree with Adam that it was still her same personality that she has everyday, why? Do you think the costume will help her break out of her shell more often and not just that one night? Do you think she will actually enjoy Adam's shows from now on?

Week 3 Connector

Mia talks a lot about how she feels somewhat disjointed from Adam and his world of music. She doesn't understand why anyone would want to go to a smokey bar to listen to overly loud music. I connect to this on a personal level being that my brother has his own rock-type band. It's taken me a long time to learn to appreciate his rowdier shows and why anyone would ever want part in anything like it. However, like Mia, I learned to just sort of go with the flow, relax, and just be about to enjoy myself. Do you think Adam has had to go through this same process to appreciate Mia's taste music? Do you connect with Mia in the same sence of fitting in where you seem to be the only one who doesn't understand why people like what they like? Is this a valid connection?

Week 2: Connector

In my opinion, the part of this book written in the present tense is difficult to connect to, simply because the situation at hand is so unique and definitely doesn't happen to many people. The parts I find that I am connecting to more are Mia's flashbacks. One thing I connected with is college and the long shot that Juilliard is. Because Mia is only a little bit older than I am, many school experiences are similar. She is auditioning for colleges and I am looking at colleges. Although I don't want to go to Juilliard, I am really looking into Carnegie Mellon, where they accept 4 guys and 4 girls into their theatre program. As much of a long shot as it is, I am still going to audition because it is one of the best musical theatre schools in the country. I can also relate to Mia when she talks about leaving home. While I want to go to New York or study abroad, I can't even imagine leaving my family, which is why I am still looking and schools near by and schools in state. I think that college is one of the most stressful decisions teenagers make, and many people all over the world can relate to Mia on this level. Can you relate to Mia in any ways? What about her relationship with Adam? I've never had a boyfriend so I wouldn't know, but if you are in a relationship, does your relationship have anything in common with Mia and Adam's?