1. The story of 108 takes place in the future. Did you find the future environment and descriptions of Bayla’s day-to-day life intriguing, frightening or something in between?

2. Though the story of 108 is fictional, environmental pollution is obviously real. How did the environmental theme make you feel --- empowered, educated, frightened, inspired?

3. At the beginning of the novel, Bayla holds certain beliefs that influence her personality and behavior; for example, relationships only cause pain. What other beliefs does she hold? Why does she hold them? Which beliefs, if any, change by the end of the novel?

4. In what ways do they feel trapped by the losses, grief and abandonment they’ve experienced? How do those traumas impact their ability to function in their day-to-day lives? By the end of the novel, do they overcome their traumas, and if so, to what extent? How does Zed’s debilitating medical condition, as well as his emotional pain related to his brother and father, affect his philosophy of life?

5. At the midpoint of the story, Bayla is transported by van to the ZedChem facility --- a pivotal moment for her personal journey. What realizations does she have in that moment, and how do they change her? What more does she need to learn before the end of the novel? Have you had similar moments of lucidity in your life that demarcate a significant change from your past behaviors and/or personality?

6. Bayla fears Zed because he threatens her safety and that of her family, but also because he willfully refuses to consider the long-term consequences of his actions and business policies upon the planet. Why does the latter inspire fear in Bayla?

7. Much of ZedChem’s work is designed to drive sales while disregarding the impact of its products upon the environment. Should ZedChem have to consider its impact on human beings or the planet itself? In a capitalist society, is it possible to factor in the needs of the environment? What would conscious capitalism, which takes the needs of people and planet into account, look like?

8. Daksha is a powerful character operating outside typical social structures. Aatmanji has difficulty describing her and the source of her power, stating that she is “of Earth.” What does it mean to be so deeply identified with the planet? In what ways does Daksha resemble Bayla, and in what ways do they differ?

9. Motherhood and mothering are complex topics in the novel. Bayla feels mothered by the Tulā School community and, indeed, by the forest itself. On the other hand, she doesn’t experience Daksha as a mother while growing up, but she does feel mothering energy when they are reunited. What actions constitute mothering? Can mothering occur outside a one-on-one human relationship? Can one mother a landscape? A community? A planet? What is the source of mothering energy, and what does it represent?