Trigger

More about the Book

Trigger RGG.pdf

1. What does the title Trigger mean to you?

2. Jersey is like a detective, he’s searching for clues to unravel the mystery of his life. What do you consider to be the key evidence he uncovers?

3. If you were to read Jersey’s story from Todd’s, Mama Rush’s, or the perspective of any other character in the book, what aspects do you think would be different? The same?

4. Selfishness is a recurring theme in Trigger. What examples of it do you see in the book? In your own life?

5. How did your feelings for and opinion of Jersey change throughout your reading of his story?

6. Why do you think Jersey’s friends didn’t visit him in the hospital during his recovery?

7. What, if any, aspects of Jersey’s life do you relate to?

8. When Jersey’s nervous he repeats himself (“lucky”, “proud”, “lucky”, “proud”)and at times spews out inappropriate comments (“frog farts” and “dumbass”); what did you think of this behavior? Do you have any habits that ease your anxieties?

9. Trigger vividly depicts how much one person’s actions can affect another’s. Can you think of events in your life that have made a marked difference—good or bad—in someone else’s?

10. How do you think you would react if you could no longer do something you enjoyed and/or excelled at?

11. How would you react if a friend attempted or committed suicide?

12. Jersey’s father tells him that he needs to leave the past alone. (p141) How do you think Jersey’s recovery (and possibly his life) would have been different if he took his father’s advice? Why do you think his father wanted him to move forward and not look back?
13. Do you think there is a point in Jersey’s past where if he had only said or done one thing differently he might not be where he is now? If no, why. If yes, what is that point, and why do you think a different response could have changed the course of his life?

14. When Jersey first encounters Big Larry at The Palace (p 91-94), he realizes he’s getting a glimpse of how others may see him—and he’s not happy about this insight. Have you been in a situation or met another person that caused you to assess how others may perceive you? Explain.

15. When Mama Rush said “not everything fits on a list Jersey” (p 253), what do you think she meant?

16. Do you think it’s a fine line or a thick line that separates a person from taking their life or saving themselves when they are in a moment of sheer anguish and desperation? Explain.

 17. “Some of these presents can’t be fixed all the way, but it’s the best we can do.” (p 128) Do you see this as a metaphor for Jersey’s life? If yes, how so? If not, what would be a good one?

18. When Jersey returns to school the adults stare at him as he walks down the hall, and Jersey is somewhat relieved by this reaction(p 112). Were you expecting a different response from the teachers? If so, why? How would you have liked to see them react?

19. When Jersey, Todd and a couple other guys get into a fight in the bathroom (p 128-131), Leeza accuses Jersey of instigating the situation rather than consider that the other boys initiated it. Why?

20. What, if any significance, to you give to Jersey protecting the football rug when he attempts suicide?

21. Why do you think Jersey’s father kept the gun?

22. What was going through your head when Jersey took out the bullets and the gun and contemplated shooting himself? (p. ?)

23. One of the most emotionally wrought scenes in the book is when Jersey’s mother walks into his room after his return from Carter, sees him cradling the gun in his hand and breaks down. (p 178) Soon after this scene, she leaves home. Overall, how did you feel toward the mother—compassionate, sympathetic, angry?

24.  “’You wouldn’t listen to anybody and you wasted yourself and messed [Leeza] up over a whole bunch of nothing.’ . . . ‘That’s why I can’t stand you.’” (p 265)
What was your reaction to Todd’s confession as to why he hates Jersey? What, if anything, would you have done differently if Jersey were your best friend?

25. “I knew about cold empty, and mad, and now I knew how everything seemed like it got too big and bigger and I made nothing huge until I pulled the trigger.” (p 273) What was your reaction to Jersey’s epiphany? Given that you were in his head with him, had you come to this same conclusion?

26. As noted in the previous question, Jersey realized that sometimes it’s the little moments and interactions that make all the difference—be they good or bad—and that those small details can have a more profound effect than one major event. Have you ever had an eye-opening experience that caused you to see yourself and your life in a new light? Explain.

27. How do you see the rest of Jersey’s life playing out?