Hide

There are 14 contestants in Hide, and they all have different motivations and backgrounds. Choose one of the minor characters and explore their portrayal, extrapolating the essence of their life from the few details provided. How does their past history inform their actions and attitudes?

Compare and contrast Linda’s and Jaden’s antagonistic acts throughout the novel. Do they see themselves as villains? What motivates them to behave as they do, and how do these details affect the novel’s broader commentary on the true nature of “monsters”?

At the beginning of the novel, Mack believes that she is culpable in her sister’s death. What is the basis of this belief, and how does it affect her interactions with Ava and her other allies in the park?

In her Afterword, White writes that she was inspired to write Hide after her daughter’s classroom experiences with active-shooter drills. What parallels does she draw between real-world violence and the fictional violence of the novel? How does the real-world issue of gun violence influence the course of the novel?

White draws on Greek mythology and reimagines the myth of the Minotaur. How does she update the myth to fit a 20th- and 21st-century setting? How do the myth’s main thematic issues manifest in the novel’s more contemporary narrative?

Mack, Ava, and LeGrand have all experienced past trauma. How do these experiences affect their present behavior?

What techniques does White use to create a more nuanced portrayal of the monster? Why does Mack feel pity for the beast, and what does her attitude suggest about the concept of monstrosity?

Linda’s surname is Nicely. How does this name relate to her interest in upholding certain social ideals?