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About The Book

Nora finds forbidden love with her fallen angel, in the first in the New York Times bestselling Hush, Hush saga.

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Reading Group Guide

A Guide for Reading Groups to

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
 

About the book

Danger oozes out of every gorgeous pore of Patch Cipriano’s well-toned body.  So why is Nora Grey, who excels at keeping her life danger-free, so drawn to him?  Why is it that when she looks into his black eyes her body stops listening to her brain?  Patch has secrets . . . a dark past that both frightens and intrigues Nora.  But how much does she really want to know about what may turn out to be the ultimate bad boy? 

Discussion Questions

  1. How does Nora feel when she and Patch are first paired up in biology class?  Would their paths have crossed otherwise?  How different—or similar—are Patch and Nora below the surface? 
  2. What draws Nora to Patch?  How much of it is physical?  How much of it is destiny?  Should she have tried to fight the attraction?
  3. Why does Elliot help Jules/Chauncey?  Why does Vee defend the two Kinghorn boys?  Are they equally responsible for what happens?
  4. How is Patch’s relationship with Nora different from the relationship that got him expelled from Heaven?  Why was he so resistant to becoming a guardian angel?  Where do you think Patch and Nora’s relationship will go?
  5. Why does Jules/Chauncey hate Patch so much?  Is his anger justified?
  6. What role does Nora’s father play in her life?  In what ways does his death make her more resistant to the supernatural beings in her life?  In what ways does it make her more open to them?
  7. Nora needs to take iron pills when she’s under stress to combat her anemia.  Why do you think that the author chose this ailment for Nora?  What does the iron symbolize?
  8. Why do the various angels control Nora’s mind?  How does this make her feel?  Do you think events would have played out differently if she’d told more people what she was experiencing?
  9. What does Dabria want from Nora?  What does she want from Patch?  Why is she an important character?

Activities
  1. Patch knows that Nora likes baroque music and uses this information to interpret what sort of person she is.  Research the characteristics of baroque music to discover why Patch said what he did about Nora’s personality.  Choose your favorite type of music and analyze it to see what it says about your personality.
  2. Can you be a “guardian angel” to someone in need?  Sign up to mentor or tutor someone younger than you, or volunteer at the Humane Society.
  3. There’s a lot of mythology surrounding fallen angels.  Research their fall from Heaven, what they’ve been doing since, and how they can return to grace.
  4. Nora has to rely several times on the skills she learned at kickboxing class.  Join a martial arts or self-defense class and learn how to handle yourself in dangerous situations.
  5. Coach McConaughy makes his students find out as much as they can about their new lab partners.  Choose someone that you don’t know very well and find out as much as you can about them.  You never know what interesting things you might discover!


This reading group guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.

About The Author

Photo by Krista Sidwell

Becca Fitzpatrick is the author of Black Ice, Dangerous Lies, and the Hush, Hush saga, including Hush, Hush; Crescendo; Silence; and Finale—all four of which debuted as New York Times bestsellers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she’s most likely running, prowling sales racks for shoes, or watching crime dramas on TV. She lives in Colorado with her family. Find out more at BeccaFitzpatrick.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (October 13, 2009)
  • Length: 400 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781416998204
  • Grades: 9 and up
  • Ages: 14 - 99
  • Lexile ® HL640 The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Awards and Honors

  • ILA Young Adults' Choices
  • Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award Master List
  • Soaring Eagle Book Award Nominee (WY)
  • North Carolina Children's Book Award Nominee
  • ALA/YALSA Teens' Top Ten List

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More books from this author: Becca Fitzpatrick