Chain Gang All Stars

Why does the CAPE program use Blood Points instead of giving fighters access to real money? Who benefits from the creation of this scrip, and how? What does the equipment Links can buy with Blood Points say about CAPE as a piece of entertainment and as a carceral punishment?

What do the Links’ nicknames mean, and how are they used? What is the significance of Thurwar not using a nickname?

Does Thurwar’s character arc demonstrate that love and forgiveness are tools of restorative justice? Why or why not?

How does the author’s use of rotating points of view develop the novel’s themes? What techniques differentiate the narrators? How do these shifting perspectives affect the reading experience?

Discuss activism in the novel. How does Tracy Lasser’s decision to make an anti-CAPE speech on air compare to Mari Harkless’s on-field protest or the actions of protestors at the farmers market? Are some forms of activism more potent than others? Why or why not?

Examine the idea of found family in the novel. How do relationships between Links simulate or undercut familial bonds?

Explore the symbolism of the Influencer and the significance of its name. Why is this the novel’s most terrifying and potent weapon?

Investigate the novel’s use of imagery. How does Adjei-Brenyah describe fights without playing into the spectacle and excitement the CAPE program wants viewers to react to? Does the novel succeed in not glorifying combat violence? Why or why not?