Skyward

How does the novel define true defiance? Using the character of Admiral Ironsides, analyze the paradox of an authoritarian society that holds defiance as its core value.

How does the novel portray the dynamics of teamwork, especially within the context of the military? How does Sanderson’s portrayal draw parallels to real-life situations?

What is the definition of cowardice according to Defiant culture? Analyze the ways in which Spensa’s own definition of the word shifts over time. What causes these shifts, and how does she reconcile the shadows of her past?

Choose two cadets and compare and contrast their approaches to their duty. How do they attempt to live up to their society’s expectations that they eschew acts of cowardice, and how do they defy such expectations?

How does the novel illustrate the abuses to which wartime governments are prone?

Compare the Defiant government to other examples of authoritarian regimes in dystopian science fiction, as depicted in such titles as George Orwell’s 1984 or Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game. What are their similarities and differences?

What is the definition of the word “detritus,” and what does this definition imply about both the planet and the population of humans trapped beneath its surface?

Who or what might “the eyes” be, and why do they seem hateful to Spensa?