1. Aside from a pure and genuine love of the game, what do you think Dean gets out of his team that he doesn’t get from his home life?

2. The author sets the story in 1996. How does this choice affect the tone and atmosphere of the novel? How did it affect your reading?

3. Both Stephanie and her brothers have an episode with their mother’s clothing after her death. What do the differences in their responses mean to you? How are they using the clothes to cope with their loss?

4. Do you think Dean made the right choice in stepping down from his position? Why or why not?

5. Do you think Stephanie made the right choice in going to college right away? Why or why not?

6. Do you think Dean and Laura end up together? Why or why not?

7. A particularly evocative memory Stephanie has of her mother involves stopping by the side of the road to eat a peach. Why is this image so powerful? What does it signify?

8. Another very evocative memory is of Nicole being unable to cut a lemon and Stephanie pulling over to the side of the road to cry. Why do you think this is such a successful illustration of depression? How does it complement the moment with the peach?

9. Do you relate to Stephanie’s experience in her first months of college? Why or why not?

10. One of the most heartbreaking moments in the book is when Jessica’s mom is speaking with Dean and unwittingly begins talking about Nicole, referring to her as “that sweet woman.” Why is this moment so powerful? What is the author trying to show us?

11. What are some of the leitmotifs the author employs in her writing and how do they work to advance the themes of the novel?