DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Why does Eva choose a different name for herself ? Why does
she choose “Eva”? What power does a name provide, and how
does being denied one devalue a person? What does your name
mean? If you could choose your own name, what would it be
and why?
2. Sean tells Eva that there’s nothing wrong with being an echo and
that she represents hope. How is Sean’s argument true? How is it
not true? What else might echoes represent?
3. What is the significance of Mina Ma’s story about the mongoose?
Relating that story to the characters in the novel, who embodies
the mongoose, the snake, and the farmer?
4. How do Alisha, Neil, Nikhil, and Sasha each respond to Eva?
Why does Neil—and later, the rest of the family—choose to call
Eva by her real name?
5. What emotions does Ray experience after proving that Eva is not
Amarra? How is his reaction justified, and how is it unfair?
6. Why do Eva’s classmates turn on her when they discover that she
isn’t Amarra? How does Lekha remain loyal?
7. Why do you think Eva is drawn to creating birds—and wings—in
her art?
8. Why does Amarra sign a Request for Removal? Why does Nikhil
not give the request to his parents? Why does he give it to Eva?
Why do Alisha and Neil sign it themselves?
9. Why do Ray and Sonya betray Eva? Who else performs acts of
betrayal in the novel?
10. Why won’t Eva run away, first in England and then in India?
What finally convinces her to run? What other options does she
have, and what would you have done in her situation?
11. How has Matthew changed from Eva’s memories of him in the
green room to when Eva meets him again? Is he as cold and
detached as he seems? Is he capable of love? How do you know?
12. Describe Eva and Sean’s relationship. How do you know that
they love each other?
13. Why is Eva not allowed to read Frankenstein? How do the themes
and plot of Frankensteinrelate to The Lost Girl ?
14. In theory, how do echoes alleviate grief ? In practice, how does
Amarra’s echo affect the grieving of her family and friends?
15. Given the opportunity, would you have the Loom stitch an echo
of a loved one? Why or why not?
Join the community at www.facebook.com/epicreads 8/ 12
READ.DISCUSS.REPEAT.
Book
Club
Pick!
THELOST GIRL
bySANGU MANDANNA
ABOUT THE BOOK
Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by
the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace her “other,” a
girl named Amarra, if she ever died. For sixteen years Eva studies Amarra’s life,
and when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva must abandon everything she’s
ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to
move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive. And after Eva is
unexpectedly dealt a blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to
choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom
to be an original. To be Eva.
1. Why does Eva choose a different name for herself ? Why does
she choose “Eva”? What power does a name provide, and how
does being denied one devalue a person? What does your name
mean? If you could choose your own name, what would it be
and why?
2. Sean tells Eva that there’s nothing wrong with being an echo and
that she represents hope. How is Sean’s argument true? How is it
not true? What else might echoes represent?
3. What is the significance of Mina Ma’s story about the mongoose?
Relating that story to the characters in the novel, who embodies
the mongoose, the snake, and the farmer?
4. How do Alisha, Neil, Nikhil, and Sasha each respond to Eva?
Why does Neil—and later, the rest of the family—choose to call
Eva by her real name?
5. What emotions does Ray experience after proving that Eva is not
Amarra? How is his reaction justified, and how is it unfair?
6. Why do Eva’s classmates turn on her when they discover that she
isn’t Amarra? How does Lekha remain loyal?
7. Why do you think Eva is drawn to creating birds—and wings—in
her art?
8. Why does Amarra sign a Request for Removal? Why does Nikhil
not give the request to his parents? Why does he give it to Eva?
Why do Alisha and Neil sign it themselves?
9. Why do Ray and Sonya betray Eva? Who else performs acts of
betrayal in the novel?
10. Why won’t Eva run away, first in England and then in India?
What finally convinces her to run? What other options does she
have, and what would you have done in her situation?
11. How has Matthew changed from Eva’s memories of him in the
green room to when Eva meets him again? Is he as cold and
detached as he seems? Is he capable of love? How do you know?
12. Describe Eva and Sean’s relationship. How do you know that
they love each other?
13. Why is Eva not allowed to read Frankenstein? How do the themes
and plot of Frankensteinrelate to The Lost Girl ?
14. In theory, how do echoes alleviate grief ? In practice, how does
Amarra’s echo affect the grieving of her family and friends?
15. Given the opportunity, would you have the Loom stitch an echo
of a loved one? Why or why not?
Join the community at www.facebook.com/epicreads 8/ 12
READ.DISCUSS.REPEAT.
Book
Club
Pick!
THELOST GIRL
bySANGU MANDANNA
ABOUT THE BOOK
Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by
the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace her “other,” a
girl named Amarra, if she ever died. For sixteen years Eva studies Amarra’s life,
and when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva must abandon everything she’s
ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to
move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive. And after Eva is
unexpectedly dealt a blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to
choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom
to be an original. To be Eva.
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