Reading Group Guide

Under the Fading Sky

By Cynthia Kadohata

About the Book

Elijah is a high school junior who gets caught up in the drug scene in California after one of his friends is injured in a bike accident. Under the Fading Sky tells the story of Elijah’s experience with addiction and the societal pressures that led him there, from his own perspective, starting with vaping THC and gradually including pills, as well as how his addiction, several ineffective therapists, and drug dealers impact the lives of his family and friends, as well as himself. Themes include drug addiction, mental health, suicide, family, and friendship.

Discussion Questions

1. What does the cover of this book tell you about what you might expect from the story? What do you think the title might be referencing? Does anything you see on the cover provide any clues? Explain your answers.

2. In the first chapter, Elijah frequently mentions demons. Do you think he means literal or figurative demons? Explain your answer.

3. What are the ways in which the author tries to connect with teenage readers throughout the novel? In what ways are they effective?

4. “Do you ever wonder how your parents even got as far as they have?” Elijah asks, and later speculates that life must have been easy for his parents. (Chapter one) Have you ever wondered about the journey your own parents or guardians have taken to get where they are? In what ways have their experiences influenced your own choices? Do you agree that life is easy for parents? Why or why not?

5. Throughout the book, Elijah talks about the different responsibilities, goals, and ambitions he and his friends have and the pressure to be successful in their endeavors. What kind of pressure or expectations do your family and teachers have for you? How do you think those pressures and responsibilities impact the characters when it comes to the choices they make later in the book?

6. On the first day of sixth grade, Ms. Lawrence writes on the board that “boys will be boys, unless you teach them to be something better.” (Chapter three) What do you think this means? How does this statement make you feel? How do you think it makes Elijah feel? Explain your answer.

7. Elijah talks about writing a school assignment using old fashioned tools such as pens and paper. Why does Elijah call them old-fashioned? Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not? What tools do you use now to do assignments that might be considered old-fashioned to future generations?

8. At the beginning of chapter five, Elijah talks about a book he read about Nazi Germany and how people doing bad things may not realize they are doing bad things because they believe that they are good people. Based on what you know about this story from the first chapter, how do you think this statement will be relevant to the characters in this book as the story continues?

9. Lee and Elijah discuss the lives their parents are designing for them and how the trajectories of their lives are dependent upon the “box” each of their parents has built for them. What boxes, if any, have been built for you? Do you think the box is helpful or is it restrictive? Explain your answer.

10. In chapter six, Elijah talks about how Anthony’s personality changed and he started liking more expensive things and hanging out with new people. How have the people in your own life changed over the years? How have you changed from the person you were in elementary school? Middle school? Last year? How does your development change the roles of the people around you?

11. When the boys go to visit Lee after he breaks his leg, Banker is there, even though they had only just met him as a result of the accident. Based on what you know about these characters from the first chapter, why do you think Banker is at Lee’s house?

12. As Elijah starts to get high with Lee and Banker, he talks about how the things he used to like doing, such as digging in the pits and biking, now feel a lot more like work. Why do you think he feels this way about these activities he used to love?

13. Why do you think that Elijah has a nagging feeling about Banker?

14. Elijah talks about feeling like he’s walked through a door and left guilt on the other side, that he isn’t in The Truman Show anymore. What does he mean by this? Describe why he felt as if his life was like The Truman Show, and debate how that relates to Lee’s observation about the boxes they live in. Have you ever had a moment where you felt like something you did, or a choice you had to make, would shift your perspective or your reality? Share how things changed, if you feel comfortable doing so.

15. After visiting Hii-Obaachan in Tokyo just before she died, Elijah ruminates on how nice it feels having people who care about you, even if it sometimes also makes you feel worse about yourself. Why do you think Elijah felt worse about himself based on how much his great-grandmother cared for him? Have you ever felt worse about yourself because someone cared so much for you? Why or why not?

16. Why do you think Banker is trying so hard to impress Lee?

17. By chapter twenty-three, Banker’s attitude toward Lee seems to have shifted. What do you think happened between them to make him act so differently?

18. Why do you think Elijah’s parents handled their son’s vaping the way they did? What was their reasoning? If you had a friend you found out had gotten involved with drugs, what would you do?

19. In rehab, Martin seemed like he was really trying to get help for his addiction and wanted to quit. Why do you think he turned back to his vice?

20. One of the counselors at rehab states that she learned in graduate school that all addicts have experienced trauma. Noah says that he hasn’t had any trauma, he’s just bored with life. Debate the ways the counselor’s point has merit, or if Noah’s way of thinking is just as valid.

21. While in the second rehab facility, the parents of the teenagers in the program are told that kids don’t always hear their parents and so parents need to be better at listening. One mother asks the counselor for specifics on how to listen to her daughter. What are some ways that parents could do a better job of listening to their children, especially when it comes to tough situations like the ones the characters in the book have faced?

22. Chapter forty ends with Elijah’s realization that Davis was crying because he was scared and that they all were scared. What do you think the boys feared at that moment? Why?

23. A recurring theme in the novel is the men in Elijah’s family saying “the only way out is through.” Elijah comes to an understanding of what his grandfather means when he says this later in the novel. Why does he at last understand this? How do you think the characters in this book will get through the challenges they’re dealing with?

24. At Christmas, Elijah has his first moment in a long time where he feels good about life and himself. He talks about how he might be able to escape from the demonworld after all. Do you think he will be successful in overcoming his addiction? Explain your answer.

25. Elijah realizes too late that Lee intends to kill himself. Do you think there is something that Elijah could have done to save Lee? If you had a friend you thought might commit suicide, how would you handle it?

26. How do you think life ends up for Elijah after the events of the book? Why? Be descriptive in your answer.

Extension Activities

1. Elijah talks about how a lot of historical writers had actually written about their own times and not about the past. At the end of the book, he says that he is keeping a historical record of his own life and that of his friends. Write a historical essay about your life as though you intend for someone to read it in the future to help them understand what life is like for you now.

2. Near the end of the novel, Elijah notes that more Americans had been murdered, overdosed, or committed suicide than had died in World War II. “We’d been in a war these last few years, but nobody bothered to tell us,” he thinks. (Chapter sixty) Find statistics to support this statement, and write a comparative essay about the mental health and substance abuse crisis compared with World War II. What do you feel is a driving force?

3. Three to four times more males die by suicide than females in the United States. Investigate the statistics, by age group, as well as reasons for this disparity.

4. During Lee’s memorial service, Elijah’s dad makes it clear how much he loves Elijah and how much he wants him to get through his struggle with addiction. Elijah says that this moment with his dad makes him realize that he hasn’t screwed up so much that nobody loves him anymore. Write about a moment when you realized that you are loved. Be descriptive.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, resources are available. The Administration for Children and Families is a great place to start to find help: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/behavioral-health/teens-and-young-adults/substance-use-resources-teens-young-adults.

Guide written by Cory Grimminck, Director of the Portland District Library in Michigan.

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. For more Simon & Schuster guides and classroom materials, please visit simonandschuster.net or simonandschuster.net/thebookpantry.