1. Armageddon Summer offers a captivating exploration of Yolen's fascination with weaving narratives from diverse viewpoints. Choose at least five of the elements interspersed within Marina and Jed's alternating narratives, and explore how each enriches our understanding of the novel's events, themes, or characters. Consider Myrna Marlow's "first draft" and "letter sent" as a single entity, and do the same for Reverend Beelson's series of sermons and the dialogues following chapters thirty-four and thirty-six. Does this narrative approach amplify the story's impact?

2. Emily Dickinson is often celebrated as a towering figure in American poetry. Delve into accounts of Dickinson's life and ideas, and examine her poetic lines referenced in the novel. Drawing from your research, craft an essay that connects Dickinson to Marina. Why does Marina find solace in contemplating Dickinson and her poetry?

3. Could the novel's conclusion transcend the exchange of e-mails between Marina and Jed? Should the authors have orchestrated a final, unifying scene for the two characters? How would you envision the novel's ending, and for what reasons?

4. American history is dotted with tales of millennialist sects or cults perceived as perilous by the mainstream. Recent decades have seen widespread attention given to the People's Temple of Jim Jones in Guyana and the Branch Davidians of David Koresh in Waco. Investigate one such group and draw comparisons to the Beelsonite Believers.

5. Examine Yolen's The Gift of Sarah Barker, another story rooted in religious themes, and juxtapose it with Armageddon Summer. In what ways are the novels alike in narrative style, theme, and characterization? Do they diverge in any significant respects?

6. Yolen and Coville skillfully infuse mythological elements into their storytelling. Marina muses over "maybes" in response to Ms. Leatherby's mention of the mythical serpent Ouroborus. She ties this reflection to her spiritual perceptions: "Maybe." Explore the myth of the Ouroborus. How does it resonate with Marina's contemplation of the Believers?

7. What is the etymology of the word "Armageddon"? How does its original significance align with Reverend Beelson's interpretation and the events that unfold at the novel's climax?

8. Yolen's intrigue with religion steered her towards studying the Shakers, or "Shaking Quakers," who thrived in America during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Characterize the Shakers. Are there parallels between their beliefs and the religion depicted in Armageddon Summer?

9. Is the novel's focal point religion, family, or the intricate bond between Marina and Jed?