Book Club Discussion Questions for 'Dear Edward' by Ann Napolitano
Dear Edward is ultimately a story of hope and inspiration. Ann Napolitano’s work is a coming-of-age story, a multidimensional portrait of an unforgettable cast of characters, and a breathtaking illustration of all the ways a broken heart learns to love again. The author takes on the re-telling of a true story in a way that leaves the reader unable to put it down.
Discussion Guide
The story starts off when the Adler family arrives to Newark airport to board a flight from New Jersey to LA. It’s very mundane. But, we the readers, know that all the characters are soon heading to tragedy. Let’s talk about this opening chapter.
The characters we meet in this chapter are: Bruce and Jane Alder (Edward’s parents); his brother Jordan; Crispin Cox, an elderly wealthy man; Linda Stollen, a young pregnant woman; Florida, a hippie woman running away from domestic life; Benjamin Stillman, a complicated military vet; Mark Lassio, a brash businessman and Veronica, a flight attendant. What was your initial impression of all these characters?
Which character’s story on the flight list did you enjoy the most?
Who did you relate to the most?
After the crash, Edward stays with his aunt Lacey and Uncle John. But it’s a somewhat awkward and stilted dynamic. Let’s talk about their dynamic at the beginning of the novel. Do you think the constant grief and memories of loved ones is a reason why they all were so closed off to each other?
Why did people write letters to Edward?
What purpose does it have for the people left behind?
Which letter did you like the most?
Edward said that he would not commit suicide. He said that he would not do that to the people he loves because he knows what it feels to be left behind. This part was emotionally charged and moving. What part in the book affected you strongly?
Edward is depressed and can’t sleep. He goes to his next door neighbor’s house where Shay, a girl his age, lives and ends up sleeping on her floor for a long time. Why do you think Edward was more comfortable with Shay than being with anyone else?
What do you think about Edward’s idea to do something with the money that was given to him? What motivated him to do that? Was it a way for him to recover?
Let’s talk about the dynamics of Edward and Shay. How did they both find solace with each other?
Shay and Edward’s relationship got stronger as the book progressed. From the moment they met Shay was Edward’s friend. How did Shay help Edward get better? Why did Shay become Edward’s friend?
Edward spent a lot of time in Shay’s room and was very close to her. He slept in her room until she becomes a woman (has her period). Do you think that it was inevitable that Edward falls in love with Shay?
What is Edward’s relationship like with his aunt Lacey at the beginning of the book and how did it change by the end of the book?
How is Edward’s relationship with his uncle John?
What do you think about the payout in damages by the airline? Edward gets $5 million as the sole survivor of the crash and the surviving families get $1 million. How do you put a price on a life?
Do you think Shay was envious of Edward’s money? She mentions it a lot.
When Edward turns 15 years old, he decides he will do things like his dead brother Jordan. He wears Jordan’s clothes and becomes a vegan. How does this help him get better and recover?
Are you surprised that Edward wants to become a teacher?
This book has many diverse characters. How do you feel about the portrayal of the numerous characters? Were there to many to follow?
Of all the plane passengers, which storyline were you most engaged with?
Which one the least?
The story alternates between the plane ride and the aftermath. What did you think about this writing style of the different timelines? Were you more engaged with one timeline over the other?
Gary, who is Linda’s boyfriend, drives across the country to meet with Edward. He hopes that maybe Edward had seen or interacted with Linda on the flight. After that, Edward and Shay discover hundreds of letters addressed to Edward from the family and spouses of loved ones who perished on the flight. This is a really key section so let’s break it down more.
First, why do you think they all felt a need to write letters to Edward?
What did Edward represent them?
Why do you think it was important for the people to tell Edward to become what their loved ones couldn’t do (such as write a novel, move to London, become a standup comedian, etc.)?
What they’re really asking for Edward is to continue their loved one’s legacy—let’s talk about it.
When Edward reads the letters, it’s understandably a lot but is also eventually provides a bit of closure for him. Why do you think those letters had that impact on him?
Toward the end of the novel, Edward runs into his therapist and he mentions he still thinks about the crash all the time. His therapist says to him: “What happened to you is baked into your bones, Edward…what you’ve been working on, since the first time I met you, is learning to live with that.” Let’s discuss this.
Edward and Shay eventually go back to the crash site in Colorado. We also learn of that future together. Let’s talk about the ending.
What message did you take away from reading the book?
What are you reading next?
Julia Blanchard is a content contributor for JUGs by night, by day she works a Senior Technical Program Manager at HERE Technologies. You can follow her @jcblanchard6 on Instagram.
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