YA Fiction: Decoding Dot Grey by Nicola Davison

To Think About:

1. Shyness and introversion - is Dot one or the other? What do you think the difference is between the two? Our society tends to celebrate the outgoing among us but there is a need for more introspective people too. What value does Dot’s quiet nature bring to her work?

2. There are many forms of cruelty from neglect to outright violence. The book doesn’t shy away from these topics as they’re important to acknowledge if we’re going to make changes. How did it make you feel? What would you have done differently than the characters in the book?

3. People have lived alongside animals for thousands of years. Not all humans view animals as worthy of compassion. It varies from culture to culture, family to family, individual to individual. What is it that makes some people feel so connected to animals? What are the benefits of that bond to an animal or the person? What might be the downfalls?

4. The book’s working title was No Shelter. It’s a theme that runs throughout Dot’s story. Can you pick out the different forms of shelter in the book? Is it always a positive thing?

5. Some people know just what they want to be when they grow up and move in a direct line toward that goal. Most of us don’t. Or maybe we think we know but discover it’s not the right path. It’s a source of anxiety for Dot as it is many people. Is it reasonable to have a clear idea about what you want to do with the rest of your life at Dot’s age? And what about you?