1. Travis’s parents, best friend, and girlfriend must all adjust to having him back. Who has the most difficulty with his return and why?
2. How is Travis’s new friend, Hatton, alike or different from his old friend, Kyle? How do Kyle and/or Hatton change over the course of the novel?
3. Travis longs to see Cate, his girlfriend; however, she delays their meeting. How does their relationship evolve, beginning with Travis’s illness? How does Cate express her conflicting emotions about their relationship?
4. Travis’s doctor connects Travis with the only other living cryogenics survivor, Lawrence Ramsey, who appears occasionally in the story. How would the story be different without him? What would the story “lose” if he were removed?
5. One theme in the novel is "secrets." How is this theme introduced and how does it develop throughout the story. How does the author incorporate secrets in the plot to surprise the reader?
6. What other major themes play a role in the book? How do these themes develop throughout the story?
7. Do you think the author had an intended message in this book? Did this book change the way you think about the world?
8. The author tells the story through the use of flashback. Why does the author use this technique and what effect does this technique create in the story? How would the story and the story’s structure be different if the author simply narrated the story from beginning to end? What challenges would a straightforward narrative pose?
9. Travis goes with Kyle and Hatton to Arnie’s Arcade, a place he had frequented regularly before his "death." Once they arrive, Travis heads to a familiar game: Space Invaders. How does Travis behave as he tries to beat the HIGH SCORE? What inferences can you make about the ownership of this score? What details support your inferences? Why is beating the score important to Travis?
10. Travis’s school has been saving letters from people who want to reach out to Travis after he returns to life. Do you think Travis is a hero?
11. Despite all the discouragement Travis receives from both Cate and Kyle about the likelihood that he and Cate can resume their former relationship, Travis buys her a ring and even offers it to her when her fiancé is nearby. What does this act say about Travis? What emotions does this scene invoke in readers? Which words and passages does the author use to create these emotions?
12. As Travis works through his new identity, he says, “Everyone just outgrew me. Now I think I’m just haunting them." What does Travis mean by this statement? What evidence in the story would support Travis’s thinking and what evidence would illustrate that his thinking is incorrect? Do you agree or disagree with his assessment of the situation? Why or why not?
13. At the end of the story, Travis says, “We have to tell people it’s okay even when we know it isn’t." What is Travis’s thinking behind this statement? What does the statement say about Travis’s growth as a character/person? Do you agree or disagree with his comment? Why or why not?
14. Chapter 20 ends with Travis reflecting on the difficulty he is having adjusting to his new life. He says, “Truth is, I was the past and I had to find some way to exist in the future. It wasn’t going to be easy, that much I knew, but I had to try. That’s what people do in these situations, right? They try even when they know it’s impossible." What is the meaning of this passage? Do you agree with Travis’s perspective? Why or why not?
15. What is your emotional reaction (physical sensations or gut reaction) to this book?
16. What did you like about this book? What did you not like?
17. Who should or shouldn’t read this book? Who do you know whom you think would enjoy this book?
18. Do you think that the premise of this novel is something scientists will really figure out how to do? Freeze someone's head to save it, then thaw it and then attach it to someone else's body? Really, think about it. And if we can do it, do you think we should do it?
2. How is Travis’s new friend, Hatton, alike or different from his old friend, Kyle? How do Kyle and/or Hatton change over the course of the novel?
3. Travis longs to see Cate, his girlfriend; however, she delays their meeting. How does their relationship evolve, beginning with Travis’s illness? How does Cate express her conflicting emotions about their relationship?
4. Travis’s doctor connects Travis with the only other living cryogenics survivor, Lawrence Ramsey, who appears occasionally in the story. How would the story be different without him? What would the story “lose” if he were removed?
5. One theme in the novel is "secrets." How is this theme introduced and how does it develop throughout the story. How does the author incorporate secrets in the plot to surprise the reader?
6. What other major themes play a role in the book? How do these themes develop throughout the story?
7. Do you think the author had an intended message in this book? Did this book change the way you think about the world?
8. The author tells the story through the use of flashback. Why does the author use this technique and what effect does this technique create in the story? How would the story and the story’s structure be different if the author simply narrated the story from beginning to end? What challenges would a straightforward narrative pose?
9. Travis goes with Kyle and Hatton to Arnie’s Arcade, a place he had frequented regularly before his "death." Once they arrive, Travis heads to a familiar game: Space Invaders. How does Travis behave as he tries to beat the HIGH SCORE? What inferences can you make about the ownership of this score? What details support your inferences? Why is beating the score important to Travis?
10. Travis’s school has been saving letters from people who want to reach out to Travis after he returns to life. Do you think Travis is a hero?
11. Despite all the discouragement Travis receives from both Cate and Kyle about the likelihood that he and Cate can resume their former relationship, Travis buys her a ring and even offers it to her when her fiancé is nearby. What does this act say about Travis? What emotions does this scene invoke in readers? Which words and passages does the author use to create these emotions?
12. As Travis works through his new identity, he says, “Everyone just outgrew me. Now I think I’m just haunting them." What does Travis mean by this statement? What evidence in the story would support Travis’s thinking and what evidence would illustrate that his thinking is incorrect? Do you agree or disagree with his assessment of the situation? Why or why not?
13. At the end of the story, Travis says, “We have to tell people it’s okay even when we know it isn’t." What is Travis’s thinking behind this statement? What does the statement say about Travis’s growth as a character/person? Do you agree or disagree with his comment? Why or why not?
14. Chapter 20 ends with Travis reflecting on the difficulty he is having adjusting to his new life. He says, “Truth is, I was the past and I had to find some way to exist in the future. It wasn’t going to be easy, that much I knew, but I had to try. That’s what people do in these situations, right? They try even when they know it’s impossible." What is the meaning of this passage? Do you agree with Travis’s perspective? Why or why not?
15. What is your emotional reaction (physical sensations or gut reaction) to this book?
16. What did you like about this book? What did you not like?
17. Who should or shouldn’t read this book? Who do you know whom you think would enjoy this book?
18. Do you think that the premise of this novel is something scientists will really figure out how to do? Freeze someone's head to save it, then thaw it and then attach it to someone else's body? Really, think about it. And if we can do it, do you think we should do it?