1. The quote in the beginning of the book speaks to courage. In the first scene, Jack’s father calls him a coward, and Jack believes him. Is he? In what way? Does he show he’s not a coward? How?
2. What is the internal dilemma Jack faces throughout the story of Jasper Mountain? How does this dilemma surface throughout the book?
3. How does Jack change throughout the book? Which of his character qualities remain consistent? What does he have to learn and why is it so difficult for him?
4. Courage and fear is a motif throughout the book. Who besides Jack is forced into situations they may fear? How do they deal with it?
5. Who in Jasper is hiding away from their fear? Who faces it?
6. One important character in the book is Mouse. In what ways is Mouse an adult? In what ways is he a child? How does he force Jack to change?
7. Throughout Jasper Mountain, some characters are users/abusers and some are not. Which characters are abusers but think they are not? How do they justify what they are doing?
8. Isabella St. Claire believes she is a savior to her ladies. How is she saving them? How is she not?
9. Is Isabella strong or weak of character? Where do we see each side of her? Does she change throughout the book? How? How does she not?
10. When Milena realizes what the Boarding House truly is, she stays. Does she have any other course of action? Why do you think she stays? What is she looking for?
11. Do the ladies of the Boarding House have any other choice than the life they’ve chosen? Why or why not?
12. When Milena meets Jack, she is frightened of him. Why? She questions her “insights” throughout the book, are they truly psychic revelations? If not, what else might account for them?
13. Isabella taunts Reverend McShane throughout the book. How does she view him? Feel about him? Does this change throughout the story?
14. One theme in the book is empathy for others and respect for their beliefs. Where does this theme surface in the story? In or between which characters?
15. Is Victor Creely truly evil, or is he simply narcissistic and lacking compassion? Is a lack of compassion always evil? When is it not? When does an absence of empathy cross the line into evil? Is there a line?
16. What other characters, besides Victor Creely and the officers of the mine, portray a lack of empathy? How does this affect them and others around them?
17. What characters have a keen empathy for others? In what ways do they reveal this strength?
18. Are there any parallels to the situations in Jasper that are reflected in life today? The mining company? Victor Creely and the officers of the mine? The miners themselves? The Boarding House? The community of Jasper?
19. Jasper Mountain plays a part in the lives of the people who live on it and dig through it. How does its meaning differ from character to character? What does the mountain signify to Jack? To Milena? Does the mountain and its significance change for either of these characters throughout the story?
20. What about the ending? Did Jack resolve his crisis the way you expected? Is what he did wrong? Justified? Why or why not?
21. How do you think the consequences of Jack’s actions and decisions will impact him in the future?
