These questions are in the back of the book, but I’ve put them here for you to print out for your book club meeting.

Book Club Questions for Summer of Fortune

1/ As an adult child of an alcoholic (known as ACOA’s), Maddie has control issues and often mentions how it is better to be in control of her life, making her plans and sticking to them. Even if it means being alone. Where did this need comes from? Is it helping her or hurting her?

2/ What are Maddie’s other coping strategies?

3/ Have you known any Adult Children of Alcoholics? Why do you think some become well-functioning adults and others struggle with that?

4/ Maddie uses photography to distance her from others. How does the author show this in the story?

5/ Jenny suffers from the “Grass is Greener syndrome” and thinks life will be better living with her father. Have you ever seen this played out in real life?

6/ What makes Maddie change her attitude towards her mother?

7/ Maddie wonders if she was repeating learned behavior when she married Mark. What behaviors did she mean? Have you seen evidence of this in your own life or the lives of those close to you?

8/ Who is the antagonist in the story? Was it Cindy, or a more abstract, perhaps social, problem or idea?

9/ Have you ever wanted to run away and leave all your problems behind? Have you ever had the chance?

10/ Maddie grew up with a TV “family”. Do you think this kind of attachment to TV is good or bad for impressionable children? Did it have a positive or negative effect on Maddie?

11/ The Murphy’s seem like an ideal family. What stress cracks are evident in their lives?

12/ What is Stephanie’s role in the story?