Book Club Discussion Guide
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ABOUT THE BOOK
The party at John Doone’s last Saturday night is a bit of a blur. Kate Weston can
piece together most of the details: Stacey Stallard handing her shots, Ben Cody
taking her keys and getting her home early. . . But when a picture of Stacey passed
out over Deacon Mills’s shoulder appears online the next morning, Kate suspects Book
she doesn’t have all the details. Club
When Stacey levels charges against four of Kate’s classmates, the whole town erupts Pick!
into controversy. Facts that can’t be ignored begin to surface, and every answer
Kate finds leads back to the same questions: Who witnessed what happened to
Stacey? And what responsibility do they have to speak up about what they saw?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. W
hen the police arrive at school to arrest the basketball players, John 6. Th
e question of fault is a major theme of the story. “‘What if she didn’t
Doone, “Dooney,” is completely nonchalant and even smug. Why do you tell them no because she couldn’t?’ Lindsey asks quietly. ‘What if she
think he’s so at ease? was too drunk to say anything?’ Christy shrugs. ‘And whose fault is
that?’” (p. 116). Why do you think people are so quick to blame Stacey?
2. W
hen the details about the party start to surface, even Kate’s parents
Do you think everyone at the party who saw what happened and didn’t
don’t want her to get involved. Her dad says, “You keep your head down,
speak up is at fault?
understand? You do not want to get caught up in this mess. People’s lives
will be ruined whether there’s an ounce of truth to this or not. Steer 7. W
hen Kate catches her brother Will with the video, she makes him
clear” (p. 97). Do you think her parents were right? Despite the warnings watch the whole thing. “‘No. We have to watch, Will.’ My voice chokes
from her family and friends, why do you think Kate is unable to let it go? with tears, and I see his eyes are shining and full in the glow of the
laptop” (p. 297). Why do you think Kate wanted her brother to see the
3. W
hen Kate begs her friend Lindsey to come forward with her, she
entire video? What did you think of Will’s reaction?
refuses. “‘I’m as angry as you are,’ she says. ‘But I can’t risk it’” (p. 258),
Why do you think everyone is scared to say something? What does that 8. P
opular song lyrics with sexist undertones appear throughout the
say about the culture of the town? book. How do you think pop culture affects the way we view women
and sexuality?
4. S
ocial media plays an important role in the unraveling of the truth.
How do you think social media has changed the way we consider similar 9. Th
is story was inspired by the true events surrounding the Steubenville
cases in the news? What role did social media have in this case? case. Do you think books like What We Saw can help prevent more
cases like this from happening? Why or why not?
5. M
s. Speck gets fired for refusing to reveal Kate’s name to the principal.
How did you feel about the school’s response? Do you think Ms. Speck 10. W
hat did you think of the ending? Do you think Kate’s family did the
did the right thing? What consequences should the school face, in your right thing? What do you think Kate learned from this experience? Do
opinion? you think she’s better off?