• D.J. often identifies herself through her physical appearance. Do you think she has a healthy or unhealthy body image?

• The Schwenk family isn’t very good at talking about problems. How has this affected each family member? How do you think that your family would handle the kind of problems the Schwenks are facing? 

• D.J. does a lot of growing up over the course of the story. How do the other characters in the book grow up? What role does she have in this development?

• Is D.J.’s father a sympathetic character? Why or why not?

• D.J.’s mother is absent for much of the story. Why do you think this is? How do you think you would react in her situation? 

• In what ways does Brian match and break the stereotype of a popular high school quarterback? Did your impression of him change over the course of the story? If so, how was this accomplished?

• Brian and D.J. both begin the story with very strong views of the world. What are some of their initial opinions, and how do these change over the course of the book? How do D.J. and Brian challenge each other?

• D.J. and Brian are about to resume high school. What are some of the obstacles they’ll face? What strengths and weaknesses do they each have in facing these obstacles?

• Amber has a minor but critical role in Dairy Queen. How would the story differ without her presence?

• What do you think will happen to Curtis in eighth grade and high school?

• Is D.J. an appropriate role model for fifteen-year-old girls? If she attended your school, would you consider her a role model?
  

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