The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

Was attending Catholic school the best path for Sam? How might his life have gone differently if he attended public school?

Analyze the role of the nuns in Sam’s coming-of-age journey. How does this contrast with the male authorities in his life such as Father Brogan and the basketball coach?

The racism Ernie endures as a child takes a back seat to Sam’s bullying. Did the author manage this issue properly? Was Ernie’s character fully developed?

Consider the role of religion in the narrative. Were Madeline’s devout religious beliefs more helpful or harmful to Sam? Cite at least three textual examples of that help/harm.

Mickie and Sam seem fated to come together in high school. What factors keep them from committing to each other until much later in life, and how are those factors resolved? How does this relate to their individual character arcs?

What are the most important choices Sam makes in his life? How do these pivotal moments disprove his assertion at the beginning of the novel that life is just a random series of events?

Explain the significance of the pilgrimage to Lourdes. How many kinds of pilgrimage are there in the novel, either literal or figurative?

Analyze the treatment of marginalized children in the text. Were the abuses they faced a product of the time and lack of knowledge or something deeper related to human nature? Cite three textual examples to support your answer.