WellRead's July 2024 selection was Max by Avi Duckor-Jones, the story of a young man grappling with his sexuality and identity in the wake of his final months of high school.
Use these discussion questions to engage with the book further, whether in a book club with friends, or just on your own as you digest the story.
Reading questions for Max by Avi Duckor-Jones.
- How did the Cliff chapters influence your reading of the story? How do they carry you, and help you understand the weight of Max’s struggle?
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There is so much that happens beneath the surface for Max and Fletch that neither of them can bring themselves to talk about. Why do you think the young boys don’t feel comfortable sharing their truth to each other?
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“I frown at the ground. She’s moved on. Forgotten what I’ve said. She isn’t going to get mad and storm back to the house and confront this man. She isn’t going to hug me, to protect me, to whisper comforting things to me. She isn’t going to apologise.” Max’s mother, Gina, is adored by many, but she is unable to be the mother that Max needs. It isn’t a relationship that feels resolved. How does this make you feel?
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The clay rhino. Let’s just talk about that for a bit. The symbolism, the materials used, the animal itself. Why do you think it was this object that Max used to unleash his pain?
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The presence of Whea, their old teacher, speaks to a constancy that safe and dedicated teachers can play in a young life. Think about the teachers that had the biggest impact on your life. How did they direct and inspire you?