The People We Keep

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• If you were describing The People We Keep to someone who had never read it, what three adjectives would you use?
• Alice’s journey takes her to several different cities, each of which corresponds to a different phase in her life. Which of these was your favorite section of the novel, and why? Which was your least favorite?
• What other coming-of-age novels have you read? How does April’s story compare to these?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• Consider all the people April meets during her travels. Whom would you most want to be friends with, and why? Has anyone ever filled a similar role in your own life?
• April’s relationship with Adam is one of the more sensitive elements of the novel, given that she is legally a minor at the time. How did you feel about April’s decision to lie about her age? How did learning about Adam’s history of sexual trauma complicate your views of the relationship, if at all? Overall, did you feel the novel handled the issue responsibly? 
• Many coming-of-age novels end with the protagonist in a romantic relationship, but this one does not, implying that other kinds of relationships can serve as equally solid foundations for family life. Do you agree? Why or why not?
• April spends much of the novel on the road, torn between the desire for freedom and the desire for stability. Have you moved around much in your life? Do you think that people need a settled home to return to, or can there be value in a more nomadic existence? 
• Music plays a central role in April’s life. What songs or artists have had a lasting impact on you, and why? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context

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

• Consider the novel’s depiction of childhood neglect. What kinds of societal interventions does the novel propose, if any? What does it suggest about the healing process?
• Two of the people April forms close bonds with (Carly and Ethan) belong to the LGBTQ+ community. How does the novel portray LGBTQ+ identity and relationships? Why do you think Larkin included these characters?

4. Literary Analysis

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

• The novel is divided into three parts. Why might Larkin have chosen to break the narrative where she does?
• April’s lyrics feature frequently in The People We Keep. How does Larkin incorporate these lyrics into the narrative? How do they comment on or add depth to April’s experiences and characterization?
• Consider April’s character arc. What role does each of her romantic relationships play in her development?
• The novel ends shortly after April gives birth to a child of her own (Max). How does this event fit into the novel’s broader exploration of family?
• Why is April’s guitar so important to her? How does its symbolism help characterize April’s complicated relationship with her father?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Create a playlist for a road trip inspired by April’s travels around the US, considering both the qualities of each place she stops at and the time period in which the novel is set (the 1990s).
• Suppose April had actually sent the letters she wrote to Carly. If you were Carly, how would you respond in a letter of your own?

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