I Fell in Love with Hope

Create your own hit list of at least five items you would “steal” in the sense that Sam and his friends steal items on their hit list. With each item on your list, write two sentences explaining what life steals from you (or your friends), and how this item replaces that.

What does the sun symbolize in the novel? How do different characters embody elements of the sun?

Sam, as an omniscient narrator, has the power to be anywhere, yet he primarily remains in his chosen body. Why did Lancali make this choice? What would the novel gain, or lose, by letting Sam openly discuss the thoughts of his friends?

Choose two of the symbols discussed in this guide and explore how they work together in the novel to create an even deeper meaning. Similarly, you may explore a symbol not included in this guide.

What role does time play in the novel? What does the narrative structure suggest about time?

Examine the character arcs of the four friends—Sony, C, Hikari, or Neo. Which characters grow the most throughout the novel? Use specific moments from the text to support your statement.

In Chapter 25, Neo writes a letter to his father explaining the ways his father wronged him. Choose someone close to you, such as a best friend or a family member, and write your own letter to them. Explain the ways they’ve hurt you, but also frame the moments of joy they’ve brought you. What moments do you choose to remember in both circumstances? Why?

I Fell in Love with Hope joins a long repertoire of “star-crossed lovers” stories about young adults facing their own mortality. Choose another book with this trope and identify at least three similarities and three differences between the texts.