Reading Group Guide

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now . . .

By Jason Reynolds

About the Book

Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author, tackles it—you know . . . it—from the guy’s perspective in this unfiltered and undeniably sweet stream-of-consciousness story of a teen boy about to experience a huge first.

Discussion Questions

1. Discuss the structure of the book. What is significant about the timeline? How does the last chapter, “Back to Now,” finish the first chapter, “Right Now”? Explain how the chapters in between are important in establishing the characters of Neon and Aria, and Neon’s anticipation of sex with Aria.

2. Describe Neon’s family. Analyze his relationship with his parents. Cite passages from the book that reveal their strong sense of family.

3. Contrast Neon’s homelife with Aria’s. Discuss Aria’s relationship with her mother. What does Aria’s mother mean when she says her daughter is “doomed”? (Chapter four) How does Aria’s mother dote on her younger daughter, Rosin?

4. Neon and his older sister, Nat, are best friends. Explain what Neon means when he says Nat “has always had deep-enough pockets to hold my secrets.” (Chapter four) What secrets does he confide in her? How does she explain sex from a girl’s perspective?

5. Describe Nat’s relationships with men. Spank is her weekend boyfriend. How does Spank explain his relationship with Nat to Neon? Discuss why Neon thinks such a relationship is for older people. Spank speaks about respect. How does respect belong in every relationship?

6. Neon and Aria are seniors at Northlake High School, and this novel is their love story. What other love stories are revealed as Neon ponders his feelings for Aria? What does he learn from his parents’ love story? Neon has heard Gammy and Grandy’s love story many times. What message does Gammy send when she relates it once again?

7. Describe the conversation that Neon and his mother have when they go out to breakfast. Why is his mother concerned about her brown lace bra that she found in Neon’s room? Explain the following simile: she “slapped it on the table like a winning ace.” (Chapter five) How can you tell he’s embarrassed that this conversation is happening in a diner?

8. Why is Neon surprised that his mother knows about “BBC”? She says, “‘The point I’m trying to make is, you’re a whole person. Not just a penis.’” (Chapter five) What is the purpose of the finger-in-the-ear exercise? How does this exercise, and his mother’s talk, guide him when he finally does have sex with Aria? Discuss what his mother means, “‘So if y’all decide to go there, just take care of each other on every return visit.’”

9. Why does Neon’s dad suspect that his son is thinking about having sex with Aria? Explain what his dad means when he says, “‘being a virgin is a beautiful thing. And so is sex, as long as you remember what it feels like to have your finger hooked with hers.’” (Chapter six)

10. Neon and Aria are planning to have sex. The first chapter reveals that it is about to happen. Why does Neon use the word connecting rather than sexual intercourse? What part of his first sexual experience worries him? Discuss whether he has considered his mom and dad’s advice.

11. Describe Dodie. Neon says, “Dodie talks big. Talks like he’s been with everybody and their mama.” (Chapter four) How does every high school have a boy, or a girl who “talks big” about anything? At what point in the book is it clear that Dodie’s information about sex is unreliable?

12. Discuss the high school’s attempt to teach sex education to sophomores. The students are required to “repeat the words penis and vagina over and over again.” (Chapter four) What is important about this repetitive vocabulary lecture? Discuss why many schools fear teaching sex education honestly.

13. What is Neon’s view of high school? How is this different from Aria’s view of school? Aria plans to attend college, possibly out of state. Discuss Neon’s goals for his future. Neon wonders, “Was I shaping up to be her summertime link? Her hidden hometown hookup?” (Chapter five) Debate whether their relationship is likely to withstand a separation after high school.

14. Neon is on the yearbook staff with Aria, Dodie, Tuna, Savion, and Fred. Why do they decide to make the yearbook digital? How does Neon come up with the idea to have everyone describe high school in three words? What message are Neon and Aria sending to each other with their three words: “Should be first,” “Can be first,” and “Will be first.” (Chapter six) What might their three words be at the end of the novel?

15. Neon’s mom inherited her father’s door-knocker business, and Nat works with her. Neon wants to give Aria a door knocker for graduation and charges Nat with the design. Explain the symbolism of Nat’s design of Aria’s door knocker.

16. Neon’s dad runs a bingo parlor. Describe Neon’s role in the business. How does he know “the regular customers”? What does he learn about Dodie from his grandmother, Mrs. Monihan? Why doesn’t Neon snitch on Dodie?

17. Humor in a novel may be revealed through dialogue, character, and a situation. Discuss the humor in this novel. Cite specific passages to illustrate your thoughts.

18. The cover of Twenty-Four Seconds from Now . . . has a subtitle that reads “a love story,” but the lowercase love is crossed out and written over with an all-capitals LOVE. Describe why you believe this style choice was made, and what you think it means, considering the story. How does it reflect on the romance genre stereotypes, if at all, and consider what it means for each character involved.

19. This novel is about a first sexual experience, but there are no graphic sex scenes. Why are graphic descriptions unnecessary? Explain how the focus is on friendship, love, and mutual respect more than the actual sex act.

20. Novels by and about people of color have been censored in school and public libraries throughout the nation. For this reason, Jason Reynolds’s novels have been targeted. In what other way might this book bring objection? How would you describe this love story to would-be censors?

Extension Activities

1. Read “You May Feel Your Relationship is Ready When” on the following website: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/dating-sex/Pages/Making-Healthy-Decisions-About-Sex.aspx. Apply the five points to Neon and Aria’s relationship, and write a paper that debates whether they are ready to have sex. Use direct quotes from the book to support your thoughts.

2. Read about the efforts of some politicians and faith-based organizations to defund Planned Parenthood. Learn about Planned Parenthood on the following website: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-care/our-services. How does this organization offer services other than abortion? What services might Neon and Aria, and teens like them, expect from this organization? Find out if there is a Planned Parenthood clinic in your area. If not, where might teens go for birth control?

3. Neon’s mother enters his room even when he’s not there. How does his mother respond when he protests? Consider this and write an opinion paper titled “Should Teenagers Expect Privacy in Their Homes?”

4. Early in the novel, Neon describes his bedroom, saying it “still has all the stuff of a thirteen-year-old . . . even though I’m a seventeen-year-old. . . .” (Chapter two). Consider things you liked when you were in middle school or your first year of high school, including people you spent time with, hobbies, films and tv shows, sports, and places, etc. How has your relationship with these people, places, and things changed as you’ve aged? Take one or two of these things and write a paper or create a short presentation about how drastically your feelings and relationship with them has changed over the years.

5. Split into groups of four or five, and designate a yearbook staff role for each member. In your groups, create a plan for a yearbook for the year. How would you lay out your own yearbook? What superlatives would you choose, and what parts of the group, class, and school would you feature? What would be your “three words” to describe your year(s) in school? In your plan, describe why each person chose their specific responsibility.

Guide written by Pat Scales, a retired middle and high school librarian who is currently a children’s and young adult literature consultant and specializes in curriculum and free speech issues.

This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.

• Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books (October 8, 2024)
• Length: 256 pages
• ISBN13: 9781665961295
• Ages: 14 - 99

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