The Art of Losing
on Goodreads (2,414)
What’s inside...
On one terrible night, 17-year-old Harley Langston’s life changes forever. At a party she discovers her younger sister, Audrey, hooking up with her boyfriend, Mike—and she abandons them both in a rage. When Mike drunkenly attempts to drive Audrey home, he crashes and Audrey ends up in a coma. Now Harley is left with guilt, grief, pain and the undeniable truth that her ex-boyfriend (who is relatively unscathed) has a drinking problem. So it’s a surprise that she finds herself reconnecting with Raf, a neighbor and childhood friend who’s recently out of rehab and still wrestling with his own demons. At first Harley doesn’t want to get too close to him. But as Audrey awakens and slowly recovers, Raf starts to show Harley a path forward that she never would have believed possible—one guided by honesty, forgiveness, and redemption.
Age
13-14
Length
320 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Harley
Rafael
Audrey
Mike
Discussion points
How did the main character's experiences with loss and forgiveness resonate with you?
What did you learn about the importance of honesty and communication in relationships from the story?
How do you think the characters grew or changed by the end of the book?
What would you have done differently if you were in the main character's shoes?
How can we apply the lessons learned in the book to our own lives?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the book's events, and share your own feelings to create a mutual understanding.
Discuss the characters' decisions and actions, and ask your child what they might have done in similar situations, fostering critical thinking.
Link the themes of the book to real-life events in your child’s world to help them relate to the story on a personal level.
Praise your child for their insights and contributions to the discussion to boost their confidence in expressing their thoughts and opinions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of resilience
Explanation: The protagonist's journey through grief and recovery captures the essence of resilience as she learns to cope with her sister's life-changing accident.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to overcome personal challenges and setbacks, understanding that adversity is a part of life that can be managed and overcome.
Example Lesson: Empathy towards others
Explanation: As the story unfolds, the protagonist learns to understand and share the feelings of others, especially relating to her sister and friends dealing with their own struggles.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to be considerate of others' feelings and situations, fostering a supportive and empathetic environment.
Example Lesson: The impact of choices and accountability
Explanation: The book explores how the protagonist's choices affect not just her own life but also those around her, teaching her to take responsibility for her actions.
Real-World Application: This lesson highlights the importance of thoughtful decision-making and teaches children that their actions have consequences, promoting responsible behavior.
Example Lesson: Healing through forgiveness
Explanation: In the narrative, forgiveness, both seeking and granting, plays a critical role in healing and moving forward from trauma and mistakes.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the value of forgiving others and themselves, understanding that everyone makes mistakes and that forgiveness is a step towards healing and improvement.