1. Skinny explores the relationship between food and emotions. What is the connection between hunger and longing? Why do you think Gray immediately turned to food after her father's death?

2. Childhood obesity, a hot-button issue in American politics, is rapidly becoming a global concern. What are some pros and cons of weight-loss camps for kids? Who is responsible for a child's health?

3. To what degree, if any, is Gray responsible for her father's death?

4. Gray tries to replace her father with Mikey, and Mikey with Bennett. What is the allure and what is the danger of "replacing" important people in our lives?

5. While reading Skinny, did you ever feel like telling Gray (or other characters) to stop behaving the way she was (or they were) behaving? What advice would you have liked to give?

6. Lewis, although his heart is arguably in the right place, consistently uses poor judgment. How could he have better handled some of the problems that arose at Camp Carolina?

7. Skinny deals as much with male eating disorders (Gray's father's, for example), as with female eating disorders. What pressures do men face when it comes to their bodies? Are body-image issues worse for one gender?

8. Gray makes a few observations of her mother's eating habits. How do you think those habits influenced Gray? Generally, how do you think parents' relationships with food affect their children?

9. Gray has a tough time emotionally connecting with her campers. Why do you think this is? How did the camp cliques keep some of the teens from making progress?

10. Throughout the novel, Gray writes highly emotional letters to "Fat People." What do her letters say about her relationship with her own body? What do you make of "fat discrimination"? Does it ever happen in reverse (overweight people discriminating against thin people)?