The S-Word (32 page)
Authors: Chelsea Pitcher
10. In her diary, Lizzie explored her feelings on being branded a “slut,” writing,
“Ask a hundred people the meaning of that word and you’ll hear a hundred answers. It means absolutely nothing”
. While many of Angie’s classmates used the word
slut
with relative ease, they seemed truly shaken when
suicide slut
appeared. What is the S-word? Chelsea Pitcher’s website suggests the additional words
severed, silence, secret, shame, separate, shunned, shattered,
and
scorned.
Which word or words carry the most resonance for you in the story?
1. Lizzie, Jesse, and others in
The S-Word
are victims of bullying. If you are comfortable, discuss personal experiences with bullying, how it affected you when it happened, and whether it still affects you today.
2. Think of what you might do next time you see someone being bullied or singled out for ridicule. Planning out your actions ahead of time can help you know what to do when an actual situation arises and you’re under pressure to act.
3. Read (or reread)
A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L’Engle or Philip Pullman’s
The Golden Compass,
two of the books on Lizzie’s bookshelf. Consider the ways the stories address religion and science, and why that would have held significance for Lizzie.
C
HELSEA PITCHER’S WEBSITE,
www.ChelseaPitcher.com
, includes information about her book and short stories, as well as links to her Facebook page, her Twitter handle, and her blog. Your group can reach out to her with questions about the story or share feedback from your book club experience.
CHELSEA PITCHER
is a native of Portland, Oregon, where she received her BA in English Literature.
The S-Word
is her first novel. Follow her on Twitter at
@Chelsea_Pitcher
and visit her website at
www.chelseapitcher.com
.
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Gallery Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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New York, NY 10020
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Chelsea Pitcher
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Gallery Books trade paperback edition May 2013
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.
Designed by Davina Mock-Maniscalco
Cover design & lettering by Zoe Norvell
Author photo © Cameron Browne
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Pitcher, Chelsea.
The S-word / by Chelsea Pitcher.—First Gallery Books trade paperback edition.
pages cm
Summary: Angie’s quest for the truth behind her best friend’s suicide drives her deeper into the dark, twisted side of Verity High.
1. Suicide—Fiction. 2. Best friends—Fiction. 3. Friendship—Fiction.
4. High schools—Fiction. 5. Schools—Fiction. 6. Mystery and detective stories. I. Title.
PZ7.P6428Saah 2013
[Fic]—dc23
2012036843
ISBN 978-1-4516-9516-8
ISBN 978-1-4516-9517-5 (ebook)
