Before We Were Innocent

How does this novel link the inauthenticity of influencer culture with the broader distortions that the established media outlets create? Analyze the similarities between the news media with Joni’s later status as a social media influencer, using at least three key examples from the text to support your interpretations.

How does this novel depict friendship in late adolescence and early adulthood? How would you characterize the relationship between Bess, Joni, and Evangeline?

What argument might this novel be making about wealth? How is affluence represented, and how does it impact each of the characters? Use examples from both timelines to support your views.