45 pages • 1 hour read
It Starts with Us
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Essay Topics
Hoover’s It Starts With Us is the sequel to her 2016 novel It Ends With Us. Discuss the significance of these two titles and Hoover’s change to the titles. How does the title of It Starts With Us represent the greater message of the novel?
Why does Hoover’s choose to alternate narrators? What effect does this choice have on the narrative? Provide specific examples.
A foil character is a contrasting character who highlights a characteristic in their opposing character. Discuss one foil character pair in the novel. How do they contrast? What qualities does each character highlight in the other?
It Starts With Us begins and ends with Atlas Corrigan. Analyze how and why Hoover begins and ends her novel with Atlas.
How does Lily change throughout the novel? What greater themes does Hoover reflect in Lily’s development? Why?
How does Atlas change throughout the novel? What greater themes does Hoover reflect in Lily’s development? Why?
Why does Atlas have a negative reaction to seeing Lily’s tattoo? How does the heart-shaped tattoo represent Lily’s relationships with both Atlas and Ryle?
How would the novel be different if Hoover had not used the epistolary form to convey characters’ thoughts and feelings? What other narrative methods could she have used? Would they have been as effective? Support your response with examples from the text.
Lily is a survivor of domestic violence. How does Hoover depict survivors of domestic violence? What greater message is she trying to convey? Why?
Generational trauma and abuse are themes in the novel. How does Lily ensure that Emerson’s experience will be different from her own? How does Atlas ensure the same thing for Josh?
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By Colleen Hoover
