Introduction

Sandi Ward’s shrewdly observed, funny, and wonderfully touching novel tells of a fractured family, a teenage boy, and a remarkable cat whose loyalty knows no bounds . . .
 
A boy and his cat. It’s an unconventional friendship, perhaps, but for Charlie and Lily, it works beautifully. It was Charlie who chose Lily from among all the cats in the shelter. He didn’t frown, the way other humans did, when he saw her injured back leg, the legacy of a cruel previous owner. Instead, Charlie insisted on rescuing her. Now Lily wants to do the same for Charlie.
 
She’s the only one who’s seen the bruises on Charlie’s body. If she knew who was hurting him, she’d scratch their eyes out. But she can’t fix this by herself. Lily needs to get the rest of the family to focus on Charlie—not easy when they’re wrapped up in their own problems. Charlie’s mother kicked his father out weeks ago and has a new boyfriend who seems charming, but is still a stranger. Oldest son Kevin misses his father desperately. Victoria, Charlie’s sister, also has someone new in her life, and Lily is decidedly suspicious. Even Charlie’s father, who Lily loves dearly, is behaving strangely.
 
Lily knows what it’s like to feel helpless. But she also knows that you don’t always have to be the biggest or the strongest to fight fiercely for the ones you love . . .
 
Praise for Sandi Ward’s The Astonishing Thing
 
“A beautiful and touching look into the intricacies of marriage and family life, all seen through the loving and unique perspective of the family pet.”
—Modern Cat
 
“The Astonishing Thing feels like a bit of a miracle and we all could use a miracle.”
—Holly Chamberlin, author of The Summer Nanny

 

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Excerpt

Chapter 1
A Boy Named Charlie

I worry most of all about the youngest boy.
Bad things have been happening lately. Unpredictable things, that I don’t see coming.
And someone has been hurting Charlie. I’ve seen the bruises.
Who would do such a thing?
*
Charlie arrives home at the same time every afternoon. Usually, I hear his footsteps on the outside stairs, and then the front door swings open. The doorknob clicks when it shuts behind him, but Charlie is already on the move—flinging his sneakers off, dropping his black backpack in the middle of the hall. He always heads straight for the kitchen to make a snack. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. Were you surprised to find out who Charlie’s bully was? Who did you think it was?

2. Are there any situations where you might have sympathy for a bully? Are there any reasons or excuses you think explain bullying behavior? How common do you think it is for a kid to be bullied by a sibling, or a friend of a sibling? Did that ever happen to you, when you were a kid?

3. When trying to figure out what appeals to Victoria about Aidan, Lily speculates: “…perhaps she feels Aidan can take the place of Dad as a man who is devoted in whole to her best interests.” Did you think Aidan would turn out to be someone Victoria could rely on? How did you feel about Aidan as the story progressed?

4. Did you think Jeremy’s anxiety about Charlie was justified? Was it helpful or hurtful to Charlie that his father spent so much time and energy worrying about him?

5. When Lily realized that perhaps Kate felt scared by Jeremy’s behavior, what was your reaction? Would you have felt scared, in the same situation? What would you have done differently, if you were Kate?

6. Were you surprised that Charlie wanted to go live with his father after bonding with Mark? Would either man be a good role model for Charlie? Do you think Charlie and Jeremy will get along when they live together?

7. Were you surprised that Charlie chose Gretel to live with him and his dad? Is it symbolic of Charlie putting his childhood aside and accepting the changes happening in his family? Could you see Charlie begin to take on the role of ‘parenting’ his father if Jeremy has problems in the future?

8. Do you think Jeremy is truly on the road to recovery, and will pull his life together? Why or why not? What about Mark? Does he seem to be coping with his loss?

9. Lily at first just sees Mark as a distraction for Kate, but over time, Lily begins to love him. What about Mark do you think appeals to Kate and Lily? Is it just that he is emotionally open, whereas some of the Anderson family members close themselves off when they are unhappy or stressed? Do you think Mark and Kate will stay together in the long run? Why or why not?

10. In the end, Lily and Mark have each lost a loved one (Charlie has moved out, and Mark is still grieving the loss of his baby). Lily and Mark seem to have found solace in each other. Do you know anyone who has found companionship in a pet after losing a loved one?

11. Have you ever had a big dog that your family depended on for protection? If a dog injures someone, do you think it’s safe to keep the dog? How did you feel about the kids not telling the adults about the incident with Gretel and Kevin?

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