In the Prologue, Eric leaves it to the reader to determine when things went wrong at Branton Middle School. When do you think things went wrong? What event(s) led to the sticky note war and the “TOTAL ROMAN” incident? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Should people be able to publish or voice their opinions without consequences? Why or why not? Are there situations in which opinions should always be met with consequences? If so, when?

Analyze why Anderson included the scene in which Eric looks through his mother’s old yearbooks. Do you think the scene is necessary? Why or why not? How does it inform Eric’s character arc and the broader narrative?