Tagged Page 14

  And last, but definitely not least, to my family: Kyle, Maggie, Mom, Dad, Jill, Bob, Joe, Julie, and Brody. Thank you for your unconditional love and support and for continually encouraging me to follow my own path. Words cannot express …

  Reader’s Group Guide

  Why is the title of the novel significant? Does the meaning change throughout the story?

  There are several instances throughout where Liam expresses his desire to prove he exists. Why is this important to Liam? What does this say about his situation?

  Why does Liam agree to help Kieran? What are his feelings about his brother?

  On page 24, why does the owner of the corner market yell at Liam and his siblings on their way to school?

  Why does the other JFK boy at Saint Al’s tell Liam he’s throwing away his chance? Why does he care?

  Take a look at page 32. Talk about the formatting of the text. How does it reflect the character’s emotional state? What is the significance of this scene following Liam’s meeting with the headmaster?

  On page 36, Liam describes his mother’s eyes as being huge. What do you think that means? What can be assumed about his mother’s actions?

  What is the significance of a tag? Why would Los Crooks be willing to kill Liam because of the tag he did for Kieran? Would they be willing to kill him because of his St. B tag?

  Why do you think Liam connects so strongly with Saint Brendan the Navigator?

  What is happening when Liam says one thing in his dialog but thinks another in the narrative? What does that tell you about Liam’s character?

  On page 42, Liam is hanging out on the roof when shots ring out in the street below. Sean and Tyrell treat it like a game. What does this tell you about their lives? Does Liam still think it’s a game?

  Liam has trust issues. What are some instances in the story that reveal this? Whom does Liam trust?

  How do you interpret Liam’s response to the Claes Oldenburg quote on page 63?

  The chapter that begins on page 87 is titled “Deciding to Waste My Life Again.” What does Liam mean by this? What do you suppose are his reasons for tagging St. B in Lakeshore?

  Why does Liam open up to Kat about what happened to him on the baseball team?

  Consider both sides of Sara and Liam’s argument about graffiti. Who’s right? Do you think that graffiti is an art form or a crime? Why?

  Liam worries about becoming an artist and losing what it means to be a graffiti writer. How would he define both pursuits? What is the difference that bothers him?

  On page 215, what does Liam mean when he thinks, “Need to keep him out of the wreck”?

  How is Liam’s removal of the St. B tags symbolic?

  What role does friendship play in Tagged? What about family?