1. Jesse wrestles with the immense burden of guilt, haunted by the notion that he failed to prevent Bry’s tragic demise. Should he shoulder the blame for his brother’s untimely end?

2. When Jesse's eyes fall upon a sinister stain upon the asphalt, his heart quickens, believing it to be Bry’s blood. Driven by desperation, he ventures onto the highway to scrub it away. Fortune smiles as it’s merely oil, sparing him from perilous danger. What do Jesse’s reckless attempts to erase this mark reveal about his character?

3. Among the crew, the nickname "Sowbug" sticks to the homeless drunk, even spoken directly to him. Surprisingly, Sowbug seems to embrace this disparaging label. What compels someone, even someone as down-and-out as he, to accept such a name?

4. Jesse is plagued by embarrassment over his feelings for Chloe. Similarly, Chloe feels a pang of shame for fostering his affections. What drives this mutual discomfort between them?

5. As Jesse and his father delve into the depths of their sorrow over Bry’s passing, Jesse deliberately withholds the fact that Chloe occupied his thoughts just before the tragic accident. Would unburdening this secret to his father have eased Jesse’s pangs of guilt?

6. Chloe confesses to Jesse that she kept her friendship-only sentiment towards Bry hidden because she pitied him for his hearing impairment. Was Chloe justified in allowing Bry to believe she was his sweetheart? What light do her choices cast on her character?

7. Reflecting, Jesse muses, "I couldn't help thinking how naive parents are. Lemonade and cookies. Mrs. Eichler would have lost it if she'd witnessed what happened here last Saturday night." Do you agree with Jesse’s perception that parents often remain blissfully unaware of their children's true activities?

8. Bunting offers glimpses of Chloe’s upbringing shadowed by a mother struggling with alcoholism. Can you imagine the strain of living with such a parent? Does the portrayal of Chloe’s relationship with her mother ring true considering Mrs. Eichler’s addiction?

9. Chloe admits, "It's our fault, too, of course. Mine and Wilson's and Dad's. Mom hides her drinking the way she hides everything else about herself. We help her hide it." Do you believe her family shares in the responsibility for Mrs. Eichler’s drinking?

10. Bunting weaves the tapestry of her tales with real-world settings and frequent nods to contemporary culture, referencing Lionel Richie’s "Dancing on the Ceiling," Reebok sneakers, Spenser for Hire on TV, and BABY-ON-BOARD signs. Do these touches heighten your enjoyment of the story, or would the narrative stand just as strong without them? Might these cultural references eventually date the story?

11. Looking back, what subtle hints might have foreshadowed the chilling possibility of Mrs. Eichler’s culpability as the intoxicated driver who claimed Bry’s life?

12. As the book draws to a close, Jesse reflects, "It seems impossible that there'll ever be anything between Chloe and me. How could it be? Her mother, my brother." Is there a glimmer of hope for them to forge a new bond? What hurdles must they surmount to pave a path forward together?