This reading group guide for The St. Ambrose School for Girls includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.

Introduction

Heathers meets The Secret History in this thrilling coming-of-age novel set in a boarding school where the secrets are devastating—and deadly.

When Sarah Taylor arrives at the exclusive St. Ambrose School, she’s carrying more baggage than just what fits in her suitcase. She knows she’s not like the other girls—if her shabby, all-black, non-designer clothes don’t give that away, the bottle of lithium hidden in her desk drawer sure does.

St. Ambrose’s queen bee, Greta Stanhope, picks Sarah as a target from day one—and the most popular, powerful, horrible girl at school is relentless in making sure Sarah knows what the pecking order is. Thankfully, Sarah makes allies out of her roommate, Ellen “Strots” Strotsberry, a cigarette-puffing, devil-may-care athlete who doesn’t take crap from anybody, and Nick Hollis, the devastatingly handsome RA, who is the object of more than one St. Ambrose student’s fantasies. With Strots and Nick on her side, Sarah hopes she can make it through the semester, dealing not only with her schoolwork and a recent bipolar diagnosis, but Greta’s increasingly malicious pranks.

Sarah is determined not to give Greta the satisfaction of breaking her. But when scandal unfolds, and someone ends up dead, her world threatens to unravel in ways she never could have imagined. The St. Ambrose School for Girls is a dangerous, delicious, twisty coming-of-age tale that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Topics & Questions for Discussion

1. On page 9, Sarah’s mother drops her off at St. Ambrose: “Then she waves at me with her cigarette and I step back to watch the Mercury pull away.” Do you remember the moment your family first dropped you off at school (whether high school or college)? What sights and sounds stand out most in your memory? What feelings did you have?

2. Sarah and Strots appear to be an unlikely duo upon their first meeting, with Sarah’s social awkwardness a direct contrast to her roommate’s sporty confidence. How did you predict their relationship will evolve throughout the book?

3. On page 75, Sarah tells Strots about Greta’s bullying, and contrary to what she expects, Strots believes her wholeheartedly. Sarah is floored: “This is such a relief that I blink fast.” Think of a time when you have found solace in a friend’s comfort, or been able to provide comfort and support to someone else during a difficult time. Why are bonding moments like these so important, especially during teenage years?

4. How do the dynamics of the Mountain Day football game reflect the character dynamics in the book as a whole? For example, what does Sarah’s game-ending play reveal about her relationship with Greta and the rest of the characters?

5. Sarah lives with bipolar disorder, and her narration lays bare the thought patterns that wind through her darkest moments. What was your experience reading these pages and stepping into Sarah’s world?

6. The CVS employees have a tremendous effect on Sarah’s life, from Margie’s and Roni’s kindness with the clothing dye to Phil’s intervention on a later trip. What does their influence suggest about the importance—and prevalence—of community in the book?

7. Nick Hollis, an authority figure in the dorm, exhibits questionable behavior toward the girls on his floor, while providing Sarah with a trusted outlet after a dark moment. How does his character change as the book goes on, and how does Sarah’s view of him change as she learns new information about him?

8. Tera Taylor, Sarah’s mom, returns to St. Ambrose in chapter 15. How do her interactions with Sarah compare and contrast with her actions on drop-off day? What does this suggest about Tera’s character as a whole?

9. There are a few characters in this book whose actions have harmful consequences. Who would you characterize as the book’s true villain, if there is one?

10. The book contains a surprising, whirlwind ending. As you neared the end of the book, what were your predictions for what would happen? How close were you to discovering the truth?

Enhance Your Book Club

1. This book is set in a high school where social dynamics and fitting in are key stressors for our protagonist. Write a letter to your high school self, addressing some of the social anxieties you may have been feeling at the time.

2. Music is mentioned throughout the book to create a sensory picture of the characters and time period. Create a playlist with some of the artists mentioned, such as Boyz II Men, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Mariah Carey, etc. How would this soundscape have affected your reading experience?

3. This story is told from Sarah’s perspective, and some of the most moving passages are written as her stream of consciousness, making the emotions even more stirring for the reader. Set a timer for three minutes and write out your own thoughts, stream-of-consciousness style, without pausing between ideas or sentences. Reflect on the experience with your book club.

• Publisher: Gallery Books (July 11, 2023)
• Length: 368 pages
• ISBN13: 9781982194888

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