House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

  How do you decide the future of a young girl that can't speak?  She has 3 likely guardians that all want the best for her (or do they) and will do anything to protect her from the scary world outside of the "House of Glass."  Actually, it is more like a "plastic" house.  The obscenely rich family decided to remove all glass from the house after the recent tragic death of their nanny - who fell to her death from the third floor after crashing through the window!

Did the young girl (Rose) witness this accident, or was she more involved and was this an accident at all?  Why isn't she speaking?  Stella Hudson thinks she knows - traumatic mutism (is that a thing?).  She suffered from the same thing after her mother's death.  She has also been assigned to investigate the best possible custody option for Rose, now that her parents are divorcing.  However, the nanny's death (Tina) is still under investigation and the cops suspect foul play.  If Stella doesn't know who the killer is, does she risk granting custody of Rose to a murderer?

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Discussion Questions

1. The story opens up with Stella observing Rose (her future client) heading to her weekly therapy appointment.  She watches as she picks up a shard of glass and hides it in her pocket.  What do you think the significance of this scene is and why do you think the author chooses to open the book with it?
2. Later, Stella meets her soon to be ex-husband, Marco, at a bar to sign their divorce papers.  What did you find most intriguing about this scene and its importance to the book's overall plot/themes?
3. Marcos' mother is later introduced in the story for a short time.  Why do you think the author chose to highlight this relationship?  Was it important to the book's overall plot/themes?
4. Stella finally enters the Barclay's residence and there is much commotion with construction and family members busying themselves about the house.  What was your first impression of the Barclay family?  What was your first impression about the house, as Stella described it?
5. Rose and Stella have a disorder the author names "traumatic mutism," which is a form of "selective mutism."  Do you think this exists?  What do you think causes it?  How do you believe it can be cured?  What are the parallels between Rose and Stella's mutism?
6. Stella has a confidante in Charles.  Is this a good or bad relationship?
7. Tina - the nanny - was important to the plot because her death seemingly sparked the family's fracture.  Do you think that the family was intact before the death or were there other signs?  If Tina did not join the family, would this have happened?  
8. The introduction of another character to the family, Harriet, also made an impact on the dynamic.  Do you believe the family would have been able to survive without Harriet but with Tina?  Or without both of them?  Could Ian, Beth, and Rose be a close family with just each other?
9. Did you find the ending shocking?  Believable? Tragic?
10. What do you think will happen next?

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

 Is this actually a thriller?  No, more like fantasy, but I guess I let one slip :)

The book is endearing and lovely, though, so it is fun to take a break from the murder and mayhem everyone once and a while.

The love interest is a bit weird for me, maybe it is the extreme age difference and that feelings began when the girl was just a young girl (13 years old).  However, that may not be true for the male counterpart.  You decide.

There are a lot of different psychological elements in this book either way.  Attachment, depression, loneliness, isolation, trust issues, etc.  So, we will definitely have a lot to talk about during our BOOK CLUB!

My favorite character is definitely Christopher.  He represents innocence, hope, love and excitement all in one.  He also has the element of tragedy and loss in his character, which makes him appealing and endearing.  He could be the glue that keeps this story going.  What do you think?

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Discussion Questions

Taken from: 

Book club questions for The Wishing Game | Bookclubs

1. The Wishing Game revolves around the Clock Island books that so many children loved when they were growing up. Did reading this book remind you of when you fell in love with reading? What was your favorite book (or book series!) as a child?
2. The themes of “family” and “parenthood” are woven throughout the novel. Discuss each character’s experiences with family and how this impacts their decisions and motivations.
3. Lucy, Hugo, Christopher, and Jack all struggle with deeply rooted fears. How does each character face and overcome these?
4. Why do you think Jack Masterson recreated Clock Island in the real world? Why do you think it wasn’t finished before the game?
5. The author sometimes pairs scenes from the Clock Island books with chapters of The Wishing Game. Discuss how these two stories connect and why the author made this stylistic choice to help tell her story.
6. So much of the novel deals with family, especially the idea of “found family.” What do you think of the idea of “found families”? What do you think defines what “family” really is? Who is in your family of choice?
7. Were you surprised by the outcome of the contest?
8. What do you make of Hugo’s comment to Jack that he “can’t save the world”? How does Jack try to save everyone around him?
9. If you could travel to any fictional world, what would it be?
10. Who would you cast as each character in a movie adaption of The Wishing Game?

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

 Ellie Black is back, but she's not better than ever!  After going missing for over 2 years, Ellie is found in the wilderness over 1 hour away from where she used to live.  She shows visible signs of malnutrition and poor hygiene, but otherwise unscathed.  She's also not talking.  She is keeping something, something almost sinister, from her parents and the police.  Detective Chelsey Calhoun, who has been working her case since the disappearance, is determined to get the answers, even if that means arresting the victim.

Find out what is behind all of Ellie's secrets and join us for our book club.

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Discussion Questions

Who is Ellie Black?  How and why did she disappear?

How is Chelsey Calhoun involved in the story of Ellie Black?

Why did Chelsey become a police officer?  Do you believe she would have chosen this profession if her father was not a police officer?

What happened to Chelsey's sister?

Why did Chelsey's mother leave?  Where do you think she is now?  Why do you think she didn't come back when Chelsey's father died?

What did you think about Ellie's kidnapping?  Why do you think she was kept in the underground bus?

The kidnappers chose to rename the girls using virtuous nouns (i.e., Hope, Charity, etc.).  Why do you think he did that?

It appeared that Serendipity was there by choice.  Do you believe that?

Ellie chose to follow her kidnapper's directions; however, she did not complete the mission.  Do you believe she was willing to do it?

What do you think happens next for all of the characters?