Dear Edward

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• This novel is quite unlike Ann Napolitano’s other novels, like Hello Beautiful and Within Arms Reach. If you have read Napolitano’s other work, what expectations did they give you for Dear Edward? Were you surprised? Despite the differences in subject matter between the novels, are there any underlying similarities? Which is your favorite, and why?
• There are many novels about true and fictional airplane crash survivors. For instance, Michael Crichton’s Airframe, Judy Blume’s In the Unlikely Event, Noah Hawley’s Before the Fall, or Piers Paul Read’s Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors. How does this novel compare with others in its genre? 
• Does the fact that this novel was based on a true story affect your perception of it? Does it evoke a stronger emotional response because it is modeled after truth?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• After the plane crash, Edward struggles to understand who he is. Have you ever experienced a significant event that left you questioning your identity? What did you do to address this?
• This book involves the impact of an extremely tragic event on a young boy.