Discussion Questions
1. How did you feel about Stephanie? Is this the story of an incompetent president or a competent one? What makes you say that?
2. How many times did Stephanie “die”? Did the author surprise you repeatedly?
3. The author reports that the epilogue was not in the original draft. Examine the novel with it missing. Which makes the better book? Are you the kind of reader who needs a happy ending?
4. What happened in the beginning of the novel that fueled the plots to kill the president?
5. Describe the main characters—personality traits, motivations, inner qualities. Why do the characters do what they do? (Lowe, Adam, Stephanie, Samantha, Cheri).
6. Several characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story. Which one was your favorite? What events trigger the changes?
7. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way?
8. Discuss the book’s structure. Does the author use any narrative devices like flashbacks or multiple voices in telling the story?
9. Did the author lead you to a new understanding or awareness of God’s role in your life?
10. Do you believe in the healing power of God? Even if there is no healing miracle, where do you see God at work in the characters’ lives?
11. Do you think illness makes people closer to God or causes them to distance themselves from Him? What has been the pattern in your life?
12. Were you satisfied with Stephanie’s answers to Debra about God and her sinfulness? (See Chapter 46.) What else would you have told the doctor? Have you seen God working through human beings to accomplish His plan? When?
13. How do you feel about having a Christian president? Do you agree with Ken Chang’s statement that a leader’s faith is unimportant? (Chapter 26) Why do you feel that way? What are the Christian themes that thread the plot? What does the storyline reveal about love and war?
14. Do you believe that a Christian should be willing to sacrifice for others? Do you think sacrificing your life is only done by physical death?
15. How effectively does the author portray the presence of spirituality in the characters’ lives? Does the author succeed in presenting prayer in a way that feels relevant? Are there specific characters whose beliefs resonate with yours?
16. What made you want to read this book? Did it live up to your expectations? Why or why not?
17. What do you see as the major message of the novel? Would you recommend it to a friend?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)