I Will Save You

Re-read the chapters titled “Dreams from Solitary Confinement.” What images recur in Kidd’s dreams? What could they symbolize and why?

Consider at least two different settings—the beach, the cliff, the zoo, the hospital, etc.—and evaluate how each location impacts the tone at that point in the narrative.

Consider Kidd’s bond with Peanut, the stray dog. How does the animal’s companionship impact Kidd?

Define what it means to be a hero within the context of I Will Save You. How is Kidd a hero? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Read more about how people react to trauma and then look closely at the structure and format of I Will Save You. In what ways does the narrative structure reinforce how trauma impacts mental health and identity?

Select someone other than Kidd or Red and argue how they, too, struggle for healing and a new beginning.

Compare and contrast the scene on the cliff in the opening pages and again toward the end of the narrative. What details does de la Peña include in the first few pages that suggest Kidd is an unreliable narrator?

Look closely at Kidd’s flashbacks and descriptions of his mother. What beliefs and values does she impart? How does he attempt to embody them?