About This Book
Jacqueline Woodson's "Beneath a Meth Moon" is a powerful young adult novel exploring the devastating impact of grief and addiction. Laurel Daneau, still reeling from the loss of her mother and grandmother in Hurricane Katrina, moves to a new town and finds herself drawn into meth use as a way to escape her haunting memories. The story delves into her alienation from friends and family, her struggle with addiction, and her eventual path toward recovery with the support of an artist named Moses and her friend Kaylee. This book is a poignant and ultimately hopeful look at trauma, resilience, and the journey to heal. It's suitable for mature young adult readers.
"A young girl uses crystal meth to escape the pain of losing her mother and grandmother in Hurricane Katrina, and then struggles to get over her addiction"--
Substance References
Character Death
mental_health_themes
peril_danger
Discussion Prompts
1
How does Laurel's grief over losing her family influence her decision to try meth? What other ways could she have coped with her pain?
2
Discuss the role of T-Boom, Kaylee, and Moses in Laurel's journey. How do their different relationships impact her choices?
3
The book describes Laurel feeling 'haunted by voices and memories.' How does addiction change her relationship with her past?
4
What does it mean to 'rewrite your story' as Laurel attempts to do? How can we actively shape our own narratives after difficult experiences?
5
What messages does this book send about seeking help and the process of recovery from addiction or trauma?
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