Alvin is featured on pages 34-41 of Evidence of Things Not Seen.

Some Questions

Readers have called my young adult novel Evidence of Things Not Seen “edgy”  and had a lot of questions about the characters profiled there.  Some of those questions have been, well, edgy themselves.  With only a chapter spent with each, readers fiercely want to hold the characters accountable and make sure they get the respect they deserve.

Look at theses pointed questions for each of the characters here. Maybe you yourself can help answer some of them.  If you prefer to print all the questions, download a PDF here.

1. What did you mean when you said, “I’m living a fucking stereotype”? What parts of your life do you feel match that stereotype?

2. Why did it take Tommy Smythe showing up at the salvage yard that time to make you realize how messed up your old man is?

3. What do you think are some of the possibilities for your future? What kinds of things did Tommy say to you to make you see those possibilities?

4. How does Tommy’s disappearance make you hopeful about your mom’s disappearance?

Some Answers

Readers have also seen themselves in characters or seen their friends in the pages.  Some of things they see about themselves and others make them curious, some scare them, and some offer hope.  Each set of questions is followed by some websites and organizations where you might get answers.  I call them “resources” for lack of a better name.  But they could also be called a lifeline, a revelation, or evidence of things not seen.  Don’t be afraid to look for answers.

Resources

Are you worried that someone you know might be living in an abusive home? Teens Health.com has tons of resources for understanding abuse and getting help. The page can even be translated into Spanish.