In an Instant

Compare and contrast Ann and Mrs. Kaminski. In what ways are both good mothers? Is one better than the other? Explain your response.

Consider each character’s behavior after the accident. Which character’s reaction most closely reflects how you think you would handle that situation? What makes you think you would respond that way? Take into account how that character wrestles with The Struggle Between Ethics and Survival.

What does the novel teach about love and healthy relationships? Choose one relationship between two characters to examine closely.

Discuss the novel’s examination of guilt and shame. Choose two characters who feel profound guilt. Outline their reasons for feeling guilt and compare how, after the rescue, they each choose to manage their guilt. Consider in particular the question of whether they manage to forgive themselves.

How would the story be different if Redfearn told it from a different point of view? Discuss how Finn’s omniscience contributes to one or more of the novel’s themes.

Consider the final mentions of Bob, Karen, and Natalie and the outcomes for their family. Do you think they deserve what happened to them? Explain your answer.

Overcoming trauma is an important focus of the novel’s second half. How do forgiveness and perspective interact in the process of overcoming trauma?

Why doesn’t the author provide closure regarding Oz’s death? What does Oz’s character symbolize in the novel, and how does his death in particular affect the Miller family?