The Most Fun We Ever Had

Analyze the attention Marilyn and David show to each of their children. Which daughters are deemed as getting the most and least attention by the parents and by the children themselves? How accurate are these assessments? What effects does parental attention have on the girls?

Throughout the novel, characters talk about the ways in which hardship can prepare people for the future. Consider the lives of Jonah, Wendy, and Grace, and analyze the way in which hardship does—or does not—prepare them for the future.

The Most Fun We Ever Had is a family saga. Research and explain what a family saga entails, then identify the ways in which this novel exemplifies the genre.

Compare this novel with another family saga, either in literature, film, television, or theater. In what ways are the two stories similar and different? What themes are common to them both?

Marilyn and David’s relationship is at the center of the family. Consider how their love affects their children. Do the Sorenson daughters feel more or less secure because of their parents’ relationship?

Analyze the character of Jonah. Unlike the other main characters, he does not grow up in the family. How is he shaped by the foster system? Consider what he expects from his new family and how these expectations are shaped by the life he previously led.

Numerous forms of parenting are exhibited throughout the novel. Examples include Violet and the two children she raises, Violet and Jonah, Marilyn and her daughters, and Hanna and Jonah. In what ways do mothers in particular affect their children?

Caregiving takes many forms throughout the novel, some more obvious than others. Consider how caregiving affects the women in the novel. Is caregiving shown to be beneficial or harmful to the person delivering the care?