How and why does Conrad push his friends away when he returns to school—especially Joe Lazenby? What reaction do his friends have to this behavior?

How do you think Cal is handling Conrad's return home? What is he overdoing? What could he do differently to make things smoother?

What do you think of how Beth is handling Conrad's return? What emotions do you see her display as the book unfolds and how does she handle them?

What tactics does Dr. Berger use to get Conrad to confront his problems? What actions does he encourage him to take to start regaining control of his life?

Why does Beth finally decide to leave Cal? What prompts her to leave without speaking to Conrad? What surprises or shocks you about Conrad's reactions?

How do Beth and Cal compare as parents? How does Conrad feel about...