Remarkables: Discussion Guide

1. You could probably tell very early in Remarkables that both Marin and Charley are upset about something even before they see the Remarkables. What were they each upset about? Were you surprised when you found out what Marin’s problems were with her old friends back in Illinois? Or what Charley was dealing with? How do you think Marin’s problems compared with Charley’s? Whose problems do you think would be harder to deal with?


2. Charley thought a lot about something his father felt guilty about—and his father’s mistakes and other decisions affected Charley’s life a lot. How much do you think people’s lives are affected by the situation they are born into, or other situations they have no control over? How much can people change their situations?


3. Marin and Charley find out that Missy’s friends had different reactions to her death. What were the good things that some of her friends did after she died, as a way to remember her? How can we find ways to make good things happen in response to things that make us sad or angry? Can you think of anything happening now that show people doing good things in response to unhappy events?


4. Can you give examples of times when certain characters forgive certain other characters in this book? How hard or easy do you think it is to forgive in each of those cases?


5. Marin doesn’t know anyone in her new town when her family first arrives. Of the people she and her family meet there, who do you think is most welcoming? Which of those people would you wish to meet if you moved to a new place? Later on, do you think Marin and Charley do a good job of being welcoming when they meet Priya? Why or why not?


6. If you’ve ever had to move to a new place, what advice would you give Marin about making friends in a new place? What advice would you give her (and Charley) about being welcoming when they meet Priya?


7. Would you want to see your own future? Why or why not? If your answer is yes, what part of your future would you want to see? Which time-travel skill would you prefer to have: the ability to see the future or the ability to fix the past?

Some quick yes/no questions that kids could just raise their hands to vote on, as discussion starters:

1. Would you want Marin’s dad as your gym teacher?


2. Would you want him as your social studies teacher?


3. If you were Marin, would you want to be friends with Ashlyn again?


4. If you were Marin, would you want to be friends with Kenner again?


5. If you were Charley at the beginning of the book, would you want Marin’s help figuring out the Remarkables?