An Anonymous Girl: A Novel

Consider the authors’ intent to immerse the reader in the story directly. How does the inclusion of morality questions and the use of second-person perspective throughout the narrative affect the reading experience?

An Anonymous Girl has two authors. How does this contribute to the dualistic nature of the story? In what ways is each author’s style reflected within the work?

Compare and contrast Jessica and Dr. Shields. In what ways do their lives mirror one another, and how do they contrast? What effects did pivotal, life-changing decisions have on each character’s future behavior and outlook toward life?

What is the role of money in the novel? Why is Jessica motivated by money, and why does Dr. Shields express judgment about this? What insights into economic class does the novel offer?

The chapters alternate between Jessica’s perspective and Dr. Shields’s perspective. How does this structure impact exposition and character development? As narrators, are they reliable or unreliable?

Alcohol is a recurring motif in the narrative and appears in multiple key scenes. What is the role of alcohol in the novel? Which theme(s) does it reinforce, and how do characters use it?

Does the novel convey a subjective or objective view of morality? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

How does both Jessica’s and Dr. Shields’s lack of willingness to Confront Uncomfortable Inner Truths prevent them from leading happy, healthy lives?

Examine Thomas as a character. In what ways does he behave ethically or unethically? Why is his character so difficult to judge, both for the novel’s primary characters and for the reader?