44 pages • 1 hour read
Sunyi DeanThe Book Eaters
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
What makes a person “good” in the novel? Based on Devon’s actions throughout the novel, is she a good person?
How much is Devon to blame for Ramsey’s journey? How might his choices have been different if he hadn’t joined the knights, and how were they already set in motion?
Devon undergoes an external transformation as she trades in her more traditional wear for contemporary apparel. What emphasis does the book eaters’ society place on clothing and physical appearance?
Why are Devon and Hester drawn to each other? What devices or images does Dean use to make their relationship feel authentic?
Killock believes that he’s ushering in a new era away from the systems he was raised with. How is the modern-day Ravenscar household different from other families, and how is it the same?
The book eaters occupy a unified family structure, with only aunts and uncles rather than distinctive parents. How does this upbringing influence Devon’s experience with motherhood?
Consider the two contrasting attitudes to mind eating. Based on the interactions in the novel, is mind eating a form of “communion” or a simple attack? What ethical questions does mind eating raise?
Discuss the way the novel uses the four types of literary conflict: character versus character, character versus society, character versus nature, and character versus self.
Devon feels that she is pushed into choosing between her two children. Why does she choose to rescue Cai instead of Salem? Is this the right choice?
Compare the experiences of men and women in the book-eater world and how each interacts with status. How do Ramsey, Jarrow, and Cai all suffer because of their culture? How do men and women suffer differently?
