The Way I Used to Be

The novel is divided into four parts, with each part covering one single year of Eden’s high school career. Examine each of these four parts—what was the most transformative event for Eden in each part? Mirroring the novel’s structure, find the four major events that define Eden’s transformation.

Amanda, Kevin’s brother, is a minor, but pivotal character in The Way I Used to Be. What is the purpose of Amanda’s character? How does she influence Eden’s metamorphosis? 

Both Eden and Mara go through rebellious phases, but they manifest themselves in each girl in different ways. What is the difference between the ways Mara and Eden rebel? How are the differences significant to the overall themes of the book? 

Eden sees herself as broken compared to other girls. As she and Josh kiss one another in Chapter 18, Eden cannot help but think about Josh’s ex-girlfriends: “This, I’m sure, is the way he always kissed his perfectly respectable, perfectly normal, well-adjusted ex-girlfriends—those soft, breakable creatures that never harbored secret bullets in their guts” (111). Unpack the meaning of this quotation, paying special attention to what Eden means by “soft, breakable creatures” and “secret bullets.” 

In Chapter 19, Eden experiences a rare moment of intimacy with Josh when she tells him about a fight with her parents, and how that fight upset her. When Eden starts talking to Josh, she thinks that she may “never shut up again” (128). In what ways is this moment significant to Eden’s character development? 

By the time she is a senior in high school, Eden engages in casual sex often. After making out with a stranger, Eden reports that “it feels like […] flying” (236). What does Eden mean when she says casual encounters make her feel this way? Describe each of the coping mechanisms Eden has developed to make sense of, and to deal with, her trauma. 

Amanda begins a rumor during Eden’s sophomore year of high school that “Eden McCrorey is a whore” (88). At the time, the rumor is anything but true—Eden has only had one, non-consensual experience. How does Amanda’s rumor become a self-fulfilling prophecy? 

In Chapter 47, before Eden reports her rape to the police, Eden makes a point to first tell Josh about what happened with Kevin. Explain why this is significant, and why Eden elects to do this.