Never Let Me Go

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did the premise—that humans clone themselves to cure diseases—seem like a realistic or unrealistic possibility to you?
• Ishiguro won the Novel Prize for Literature in 2017, partly due to this novel. Which elements of the novel do you consider worthy of this award?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• One of the major themes in the text is the cost of progress. Have you ever experienced an ethical dilemma and had to consider the cost of progress?
• By the end, Ruth tries to make up for keeping Tommy and Kathy apart. Did this change your opinion of her? 
• Kathy and Ruth have a complicated friendship and do not always want the best for each other. Do you relate to their friendship in any way?
• The novel is partly about the meaning of life and what makes people human. What do these concepts mean to you?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Never Let Me Go is set in the 1990s. How does this historical context show up in the text?
• The novel’s organ harvesting program was established in the aftermath of war. It is implied that this is the Second World War, but it doesn’t say so explicitly. Why is the historical context of war in the 20th century significant?
• What programs (scientific or otherwise) do you see in society today that help some people at a cost to others?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Dystopias are often set in the future, but Never Let Me Go is set in the past. How is the novel similar to, or different from, other texts in the dystopian fiction genre?
• What are the defining literary characteristics of Kathy’s narrative voice?
• How does Ishiguro use setting? Think, for example, of Hailsham and Norfolk.
• What is the significance of the song “Never Let Me Go” in the text? How does Ishiguro explore the idea of “letting go”?
• To what extent does this novel reflect the conventions of literary tragedy?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• The children at Hailsham have to create art so that people can analyze whether they have souls. Imagine that you are at Hailsham and create a piece of art that reflects your soul. 
• Imagine that the deferral program turns out to be real. Rewrite the scene in which Kathy and Tommy make their case to Madame and Miss Emily.

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