Books > Nothing But Drama > Reading Group Guide

Reading Group Guide for
Nothing But Drama

Questions for Discussions

1. One of the major themes in Nothing But Drama is the clashbetween individuality and respect for a parent's wishes.When Camille is arrested for harboring her fugitiveboyfriend in her grandmother's house, she says, "My motherwas going to kill me for sure." Despite her fear of punishment,why does Camille continue to defy her mother and seeKeith? How do you think Camille's mother could communicatemore effectively with her?

2. Camille's mother shows her a newspaper article about Keithbeing found at the home of his girlfriend...who is also themother of his child. Why is Camille resentful of her mothershowing her the article? Cite instances where the generationgap between Camille and her mother is apparent.

3. After Camille's mother reads her journal and learns that she'sstill seeing Keith, she states, "When you start paying billsaround here, then you can have some privacy." Do you agreewith this? What does Camille learn after her mother suffers aheart attack? How does this put everything into perspective?

4. Angel is initially interested in Good Girlz because of the $25raffle. Camille tells her, "This is my first time here. I'm justcoming because I didn't have a choice." When all the girlsagree to give Angel the money instead of participating in thedrawing, it shows that not everything in their lives is out oftheir control. In what other instances throughout the noveldo they exhibit the power of choice?

5. Rachel Adams, the First Lady of Zion Hill and the founderof the Good Girlz, admits, "It takes a lot of effort for me towalk the straight and narrow." Why do you think she sharesher personal story and invites the girls to her happy home?What is she trying to show them?

6. Alexis comes from a wealthy family and appears to have theperfect life, but she has a mentally challenged sister whomher mother tries to hide. Rachel says, "We may not alwaysunderstand our parents' motives, but it's important to respecttheir places in our lives." At what point in the story do thegirls see for themselves how dysfunctional Alexis's family is?What do they learn about their own families?

7. Angel's mother convinces her to give her baby daughter upfor adoption, but the adoption couple decides they want ababy boy instead. If fate hadn't intervened, would Angel havebeen true to herself and stood up to her mom? How will raisingher own baby redefine Angel's relationship with her ownmother? What do you think she will learn?

8. When you first meet Jasmine, she's the bulldog of the group,always picking a fight and intimidating the others. How doesJasmine change as the story progresses? Why do you thinkshe's afraid to show her inner femininity and vulnerability inthe beginning? How does she feel about boys? Discuss her relationshipwith her grandmother and how it helps define her.

9. When the girls find out that Angel is running away to Mexico,they follow her to bring her home. What does this sayabout their shift in priorities? At this point in the story, howhas each girl changed for the better since she first joinedGood Girlz?

10. Camille often asks that God not judge her and asks for Hisforgiveness. "I hoped God was as forgiving as Miss Rachel alwaysclaimed He was because I needed Him now more thanever." How does Camille's growing bond with God affectother relationships in her life? Do you think the girls changedfor God...themselves...or someone else in their lives?

Activities to Enhance Your Book Club

Follow in the Good Girlz's footsteps and give back to your community.Check out Youth Service America at www.ysa.org whereyou can get involved in volunteer opportunities like fightingchildhood hunger.

How well do you and your fellow book club members know eachother? Write a multiple choice quiz about your favorite things -- like food, movies, singers -- then team up and see how manyquestions your fellow reader can get right.

Interview a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle about what he/shewas like as a teenager, and then share the results at your nextmeeting. Some of the stories might surprise you!