The School Story

Natalie and Zoe are “two very different people” (15). How do their differences influence their interactions and dynamic? Do their differences make them stronger, or do they create conflict?

Why does Ms. Clayton decide to help Natalie and Zoe? What does she stand to gain by helping them? What does she stand to lose?

Natalie Nelson struggles with her confidence throughout the book. How does the presence or absence of her writer persona, Cassandra Day, communicate where Natalie’s head is at?

The School Story is set in the early 2000s. In modern times, the internet has made self-publishing a possibility for aspiring authors. How might The School Story be different if it were set in the current year? Think about the office Ms. Clayton rents, the girls’ means of communicating with the publishing company, and the way people access books today.

Natalie’s book helps her explore her feelings about losing her father. In what ways does the book serve as a motif for The Effects of Loss theme?

How are familial relationships presented in this story? Consider how Natalie and her mom interact as well as how Zoe and her dad interact. How are these dynamics similar and how are they different?

How is Natalie similar to her main character in The Cheater? Consider Natalie’s feelings on honesty, her guilt about skipping the slush pile, and her relationship with her late father.

Letha Springfield is an antagonist, but she still gets a happy ending. What does this say about fairness, ambition, and merit? Do you think she deserved her new job? How would the story change if she didn’t change companies?