Lola by Karla Arenas Valenti

In the book, the Stillness is an ailment that is affecting Floresta and Alex, but it is also a metaphor for something else. What do you think the Stillness represents in real life?

Both Madre Luci and Lola must grow and change over the course of this story. In what way are Madre Luci and Lola’s stories similar? How are they different?

At the end of the book you realize that Lola’s story is not quite what you expected. At what point did you realize what was actually going on?

How did the author lead you to believe that things were different than they were? Go back to the first part of the book and see where things were not quite what they turned out to be when thinking about this.

Why did The Thing That Happened affect Alex the way it did?

What emotions do you think Alex is struggling to accept?

What is the significance of Alex refusing to cry until the very end?

How did crying help Alex begin his healing process?

The central idea of this book is about the lies we tell ourselves to avoid the pain of facing a difficult truth. What lie did Alex tell himself?

How was Alex suffering as a result of believing the lie?

How was Alex liberated in the end, once he accepted the truth?

What lie did Lola tell herself?

What was the truth Lola had to accept?

How was Lola liberated in the end, once she accepted the truth?

Book Talk Teasers:

Read the reader’s theater for Lola by Karla Arenas Valenti on the Texas Bluebonnet Award website.

Watch the book trailer on the Texas Bluebonnet Award website.

Read Alikes:

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