1.The book begins with an epigraph, this quotation from Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius: “Wait for death with a cheerful mind.” What do you think of that philosophy? Do any of the characters embody it completely? Who has the most trouble embracing that attitude?

2.Richie calls his disease SUTHY Syndrome, an acronym for “Somebody Up There Hates You.” What does this tell you about Richie’s attitude toward his situation? About his sense of humor?

3.Why is Richie’s nickname, “King Richard,” significant? What do you think it says about how other people see Richie, how he sees himself, or the role he plays in the hospice?

4.Phil’s drawings of the patients on Richie’s floor are not exactly true -to- life. What might Phil be trying to depict in his illustrations? In what ways are his drawings realistic?

5.Why is Kelly-Marie an important character? In what ways does she help Richie?

6.Why does Sylvie believe that she’ll get better, even in the face of terminal illness?

7.After Richie upsets Jeanette by staying out too late, Edward tells him, “You got to grow up, man.” What does growing up mean in a context where Richie won’t age much more at all? Do you think Richie grows up or changes at all over the few days in which the book takes place?

8.Richie’s mom and Sylvie’s dad have very different ways of dealing with their grief. How do these differences come across? How do you think their attitudes might affect their kids?

9.What do you make of the poker game scene? What does it tell you about the value of time in the hospice?

10.The end of the book is somewhat open-ended. Do you think it’s a sad ending, or a hopeful one? Why?