By writing this book, I hope that others who have trichotillomania or other challenges find the help that they need and eventually learn that there’s no shame in having problems and that it can be a freeing experience to learn that a lot of other people have the same or similar problems.

I also hope that sisters, brothers, family, and friends know that they are not alone in dealing with the challenges surrounding families who have members who struggle with things such as trichotillomania. Mental health challenges such as trichotillomania, on top of the normal challenges of growing up, which sometimes might include bullying and grappling with identity, can be a lot to handle for kids and adults alike. And finally, I hope that people who don’t know anything about trichotillomania learn something new through the experiences of Frances and Clara.

Resources for Trichotillomania:

The Trichotillomania Learning Center: http://trich.org

Teens Health: http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/trichotillomania.html

Trich Stop: http://www.trichstop.com/info/general/trich-statistics

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Frances feels so lonely?

2. Do you have any siblings or a cousin your age? Do you find yourself getting along with them?

3. Why do you think Clara doesn’t tell anyone about her secret?

4. Have you, or a friend of yours, ever been bullied? What advice would you give to Frances when she faces a bullying experience?

5. Do you think the bullies in the book have changed? If so, how? If not, why not?

6. Why do you think Frances reads Clara’s Nancy Drew books? She later treats Clara’s illness like a mystery to solve. Why do you think Frances takes this approach?

7. How do you think Frances grows as a person throughout the book?

8. Frances relies on her friendship with Annie. How does their friendship change over time?

9. At the end of the story Frances and Clara seem to understand each other more clearly. How do you see their relationship evolving in the future?

10. Why do you think the book is written in verse/poetry? Did the form of the book have an affect on your reading process? Does it make you feel any different than reading a book written in plain text?

11. When Mrs. Chin visits Frances’s classroom to make eggrolls, what did you expect to happen? Were you surprised by how she, Frances, and Josh reacted?

12. Think about the title of this book. What does it mean to you? Does the title have more than one meaning when it comes to Frances’s life?

13. Frances’s hair dreams can be scary, sad, and silly. These are the only times Frances’s thoughts are expressed as plain text or prose. Why do you think the author made this choice?

14. Tennis is very empowering for Frances. Do you play a sport or have a hobby that makes you feel the same way? How does it affect your day-to-day life?