1. Overcoming Adversity YA Book Discussion Group
Downers Grove Public Library
June 13 – July 18, 2011
Mondays from 3:00 – 4:00pm
Theme
Join us this summer on a jarring and powerful reading journey guaranteed to change
your outlook on life!
Books
Week 1: Devil in the Details by Jennifer Traig
Week 2: Sickened by Julie Gregory
Week 3: The Pact by Drs. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt
Week 4: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Week 5: Clara’s War by Clara Kramer
Week 6: Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet
This summer reading program, “Overcoming Adversity,” is targeted toward older
young adults who would like to gain strength and insight into their own lives by
reading the memoirs of those who have faced tremendous difficulties. Young
adulthood is a difficult time of transition and discovery, and the outlook often
appears grim. This book discussion group is meant to give hope and perspective to
young adults by focusing on the lives of eight extraordinary people who have faced

2. seemingly insurmountable difficulties in their early lives yet survived and even
flourished despite (or as a result of) thesechallenges.
Audience
The older young adult audience this book discussion was designed for, consisting of
mature high school kids as well as those in their early twenties, is introspective and
enjoys learning about the lives of other people. They spend time at school, socialize
with friends, attend social events, hang out at coffee shops, surf the Internet and
listen to music. Consequently, publicity material about this book discussion group,
the flyer specifically, will be distributed at the local high schools and will be posted
around town in storefront windows, coffee shops and at the library. A link to the
book discussion group’s website will be emailed out to the library’s email database
of young adults that have previously signed up to receive electronic newsletters and
information from the Teen Central department of the Downers Grove Public Library.
The flyers will also contain the web address for the book discussion group website
so they can obtain further information.
Genre
Memoirs afford readers the opportunity to slip into someone else’s skin, understand
the challenges he faces first-hand, and walk with him as he journeys through his
struggles toward resolution. The highly personal nature of this genre allows the
reader to walk away with a new perspective and greater compassion for the trials
others face and causes them to consider how they might behave in similar

3. circumstances. In a broader perspective, many of the lessons learned while reading
a memoir are often absorbed and adopted by the reader:improving problem-solving
skills, gaining a better understanding of the struggles faced by others and how they
confront and deal with those issues, and how to overcome their own problems as a
result of this newfound awareness.
Book Selection
The books selected for this book discussion group are memoirs about tragedy and
adversity in the lives of our writers. Though the problems encountered in each book
are diverse, the books are woven together by the common threads of survival and
triumph over what would seem to be the most difficult circumstances. From poverty
and homelessness to mental disorder, child abuse and autism, these books offer
hope and strength in the face of unimaginable pain. The goal is for young adult
readers to realize that, while significant, they can overcome their worst issues by
clinging to hope, reaching out for help and knowing that they hold the key to
improving their own lives. While extreme, the issues confronted by the young adults
in these books provide a backdrop of encouragement and strength. The objective of
the group is certainly not to minimize the issues faced by our readers but rather to
inspire them and give them the confidence to visualize a bright future ahead.
The titles selected for this book discussion group will provide ample fodder for
discussion. The unique details in each writer’s life lend themselves to interesting
and productive conversation that can be applied to the way we all face conflict and

4. reach resolution. Gaining insights from others in the group regarding how they may
have dealt with the issues discussed, or even their own similar experiences, will
broaden the participants’ skill sets, improving their ability to work through
problems and make healthy, productive decisions for the future. Simply put, these
books offer hope--sharing and discussing what seem like insurmountable issues
with fellow participants will expand their perspectives and allow them to soar.
Promotional Materials
1. Flyer:
http://leahg118.glogster.com/glog-1037-3183/
2. Website:
http://leahg118.glogster.com/glog-1037-3183/
Book Summaries and Discussion Questions
Devil in the Details Summary
Jennifer Traig recalls the challenges of growing up as a religious fanatic with
obsessive-compulsive disorder. Jennifer shares her most personal behavioral
characters in a rare and humorous manner. Her ability to poke fun at herself
provides levity and enables readers to get a glimpse inside the reality of this difficult
disorder, while still enjoying themselves as they read.
Devil in the Details Discussion Questions

5. 1. Were you surprised that Jennifer’s obsessive-compulsive disorder was
ignited by her religion? In your opinion, were there any signs in her life that
indicated or foreshadowed that she might fall prey to this type of mental
illness?
2. What do you think of the tools her family used to cope with her illness? Did
they do everything they could to help her or do you feel they should have
tried something else?
3. “The sun rises, the sun sets. It was more apt than my mother realized. This, in
a phrase, was our family holiday experience. It was light and dark, good and
bad, Catholic and Jewish, obsessive and compulsive” (p. 132). Jennifer grew
up in an inter-faith family with a Catholic mother and a Jewish father. Do you
feel that growing up with this religious dichotomy played a role in her desire
to cling so strongly to one religion over the other?
4. “OCD is based upon an irrational belief that if you don’t do something
perfectly—wash your hands, pat the end table, plug in the coffeemaker the
exact way—someone will get hurt.” Can you relate to this sentiment? Is there
ever a time when you have felt like this?
5. Jennifer makes a complete turn-around when she finally leaves for college.
She makes friends, keeps her obsessions in check and succeeds in her
studies. As you were reading the book, were there any characteristics about
her personality you felt might indicate that she would make a full recovery?
Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Summary

6. In this book, Julie Gregory shares her experience of growing up as a victim of a
bizarre disorder called Munchhausen by Proxy. Julie’s mother, Sandy, satisfied her
need for attention with medical personnel by feigning illness for Julie. She subjected
Julie to endless doctor visits, tests and unnecessary medical procedures. Julie’s
situation is overlooked by every adult in her life who blindly assumes that Sandy is a
concerned and loving mother. Julie is bound to her mother by a powerful
codependent love. Julie eventually manages to break the chains her mother has
woven her in and must face a difficult journey to heal the wounds left by such a
scarring childhood.
Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Discussion Questions
1. Julie seemed so strong and stable during her childhood, despite all that she
suffered through. What do you think finally triggered her mental decline
toward the end of the book?
2. Growing up, Julie’s mom, Sandy, had an unstable and neglectful mother who
often disregarded her and her needs. What role do you think, if any, that
played in Sandy’s over-obsession with Julie’s health?
3. Munchausen by Proxy is a very insidious form of child abuse and neglect that
is not easily recognized by healthcare providers. However, after reading this
story, were you surprised that the doctors treating Julie didn’t begin to pick
up on any suspicious signs? What could they have done to stop this vicious
cycle?

7. 4. Do you think Julie played a role in her abuse by making up symptoms when
speaking to the doctors? Is she partly to blame for allowing the deception
regarding her health to continue as she grew older?
5. It’s obvious that Julie wanted to give her mother a second chance when she
went to visit her out west. When she realized that her mom was repeating
the Munchausen by Proxy cycle with Tina, her “adopted” daughter, Julie
stepped in to save Tina by calling authorities. In Julie’s life, do you think this
experience was healing for her or a big emotional setback? Why?
The Pact Summary
Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt grew up on the dangerous streets
of Newark, confronting the temptation of crime, poverty and drugs on a daily basis.
Despite many setbacks and challenges, these three young men kept the pact that
they made in their youth: to all become doctors. This book speaks to the strength of
friendship and the desire to strive for success. This is an inspiring book about how
three young men, with all the odds stacked against them, made their dreams come
true by supporting one another along the difficult journey.
The Pact Discussion Questions
1. Was the pact made by Sampson, George and Rameck in high school the
primary reason they ultimately succeeded in becoming doctors? What other
factors may have played a role and were they more or less important than
the pact?

8. 2. Have you ever made a pact before with someone else? Did it impact the
outcome of achieving your goal?
3. Do you think Sam and George would have had the strength and fortitude to
become doctors if Rameck had decided to continue the pursuit of a rapping
career and let go of the dream of becoming a doctor?
4. What role did growing up in the ghetto have on Sam, George and Rameck’s
academic pursuits? Did it hold them back and create stumbling blocks along
the way or did it spur them on toward success?
5. Facing the environmental, financial and emotional challenges that these
young men lived with, do you think you would have been able to stay focused
and succeed at achieving your dreams?
The Glass Castle Summary
Jeannette Walls and her siblings grew up in a very dysfunctional family with parents
whose nontraditional beliefs left the family living like nomads, traveling around the
country from one place to the next often without any place to stay. The Walls
children learned at an early age that they couldn’t rely on their parents for
consistent financial and emotional support. They struggled to fend for themselves,
supporting one another along the way. Jeannette saved up her money and was
eventually able to leave home. Despite all of the trials and tribulations her parents
put her through, she maintains a deep affection for both of them and continues to
keep contact with them, though they have chosen to remain homeless. Jeannette is a
successful writer and has turned her life around despite all of the hurdles she had to

9. overcome.
The Glass Castle Discussion Questions
1. Despite all that happened, were you surprised to learn that Jeannette
maintained a relationship with her parents after becoming an adult? Why or
why not?
2. Discuss the metaphor of the glass castle and what it means for Jeannette and
her father.
3. How do you think Jeannette’s experiences as a child shaped her adult
personality? What qualities do you think exist as a result of the way she grew
up?
4. The first story Walls tells of her childhood is that of her burning herself
severely at age three, and her father dramatically takes her from the hospital:
"You're safe now" (p. 14). Why do you think she starts the book with that
story? How does this scene lay the groundwork for the remainder of the
story?
5. Deep down, do you think that Jeannette is ashamed or embarrassed of her
parents’ choice to remain homeless?
6. Although the book portrays a very difficult life, it is never sad or depressing.
What is the tone of this book and how did Walls achieve this balance?
Clara’s War Summary
This shocking story is based on the diary of a young girl, Clara Kramer, hiding from

10. the Nazis in an underground bunker with seventeen other people. Clara Kramer was
a Polish-Jewish teenager from a small town at the outbreak of the Second World
War. When the Germans invaded Poland Clara's family was taken in by the Becks, a
German family from their town. Mr. Beck was known to be a vocal anti-Semite. But
on hearing that Jewish families were being led into the woods and shot, Beck
decided to hide the Kramers and two other Jewish families. Eighteen people in all
lived in a bunker dug out of the Becks' basement. Fifteen-year-old Clara kept a diary
during the twenty terrifying months she spent in hiding, writing down details of
their unpredictable life. Against all likelihood, Clara survived and even played a
significant role in saving the lives of the Becks.
Clara’s War Discussion Questions
1. Most people are familiar with Anne Frank’s, The Diary of a Young Girl, a
searing and personal account of one girl’s experience in hiding during the
Holocaust. Similarly, Clara’s War is a personal account of a young girl’s
experience in hiding during the Nazi occupation. What similarities and
differences do you notice between these two girls’ experiences during the
same period in history?
2. Were you surprised that Mr. Beck risked hiding 18 people in his basement,
despite being a vocal anti-Semite? What do you believe were his motivations
for taking on this extraordinary sacrifice and risk despite his feelings toward
Jewish people?

11. 3. The Becks made a promise to the people they kept in hiding that they would
never abandon them. They kept their word. The bond that was forged
between rescuers and victims became a lifeline for the whole group. In the
end, it was the Becks that needed saving and Clara led the way in preventing
their execution. Were you surprised by the irony of the Becks’ fate being in
Clara’s hands at the end of the book?
4. While in hiding the Jewish families lived in such filth, hunger, disease and
squalor. What do you think were the most difficult aspects of their living
conditions and why? Can you imagine ever surviving and maintaining hope
while living under similar circumstances?
5. There was a heightened level of turmoil and fear associated with this
particular hiding place because Hitler’s SS held nightly drinking sessions
directly above the Jewish families’ hiding place. One wrong move and they
would blow the Becks’ cover and face certain death. How were they able to
cope with this nightly threat by coming together as a unit?
Born on a Blue Day Summary
Daniel Tammet is one of fifty living autistic savants in the world. He offers us unique
insight into his condition, the way his brain processes information and how he
experiences life in this inspiring memoir. Daniel traces his life from a frustrating,
withdrawn childhood and adolescence through to his independence and adult
achievements. Tammet's condition is intriguing to researchers; his ability to express

12. himself clearly and with a surprisingly engaging tone enables them to study his
condition to learn more about the brain.
Born on a Blue Day Discussion Questions
1. How do you think Daniel’s move to Lithuania after high school impacts his
sense of self and his ability to accept his homosexuality?
2. In Daniel’s adult life, do you believe his Autistic Savant condition is a benefit
or a hindrance to his happiness?
3. Were you surprised by Daniel’s ability to learn new languages within a
week’s time and do advanced math in his head, but to have such difficulty
finding his way around town? Is it hard for you to understand this dichotomy
with his condition?
4. What role did coming from such a large family have on Daniel’s life as an
Autistic Savant?
5. Can you relate to any of Daniel’s visual and emotional connections to
numbers? Have you ever had a similar, though maybe not as significant, an
experience?
6. Unlike most other Autistic Savants, Daniel can explain his emotions in a way
that allows others to get some understanding regarding the way he
experiences and processes information. How do you see this benefiting brain
research being conducted by doctors and scientists for the general
population as well as those that are autistic?