Girl in Pieces

Watching Casper’s turtle, Charlie reflects, “I’d like to be that turtle, underwater, quiet, no one around” (18). What does quiet mean to Charlie at the beginning and at the end of the novel?

At various points in the story, Charlie describes hot and cold as alternately positive and negative, pain as alternately comforting and unbearable, scars as alternately beautiful and ugly. Using three examples from the text, examine the function of dualities in the novel.

What is the novel saying about the power of habit and patterns?

In the middle of Part 3, Charlie describes herself in the third person: “He mashes the girl’s cheek into the wall” (338). Explore the significance of her shift from first to third person. What does it suggest about Charlie’s emotional state?

Discuss why Blue makes Charlie repeat, “The cereal is not eating me” (394) after Luis’ benefit concert.

How does Charlie’s conception of being safe change from the beginning to the end of the novel? Use at least three examples from the text in your discussion.

Using four examples from the text, discuss the healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms Charlie uses. How are they similar, and how do they differ?

During her journey from Creeley to Santa Fe, different characters reach out to Charlie, including Mikey, Evan, Ariel, Riley, Linus, Felix, and Blue. What does Charlie need to figure out before she can build her own supportive community? Use at least three examples from the text in your discussion.