Born to Rock

For much of the novel, Melinda is Leo’s foil. What does it mean for a character to be a foil, and how does Melinda fulfil this role?

Much of the novel centers on music and Leo’s relationship with punk rock. How do characters like Leo, King Maggot, and Melinda explore this art form’s relationship to self-expression?

In Chapter 22, Leo refers to himself as a “punk Republican” (202). How does Leo’s time on Concussed challenge his Republican identity? How has Leo’s perspective changed? How will Leo remain the same?

How would this novel be different if told from Melinda’s point of view, as she watches her Republican friend live out her dream life as a roadie? Consider Melinda’s feelings about fathers and about music.

Leo’s direct supervisor and fellow roadie Cam ends up in a relationship with Owen at the end of the novel, after complaining about not hooking up with any women. How does Cam fit or subvert the tropes of gay men who conceal their sexual orientation?

Compare and contrast King Maggot, Bernie, and Leo’s dad. How does the novel explore the different kinds of fatherhood and what it means to be a dad?

The US Republican Party has morphed drastically since Born to Rock was published in 2006. Would Leo become a Republican today? Why or why not?

At the end, Leo chooses not to tell his mom about Bernie being his real biological father. How does Leo’s choice tie into the novel’s overall message about the Ethics of Lying by Omission?