Yes No Maybe So: Adult Book Club Questions for YA Reads
- May 6
- 3 min read
YES
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.
NO
Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.
MAYBE SO
Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.
Quick Review of Yes No Maybe So
This clean YA romance blends political activism with cross-cultural romance in a unique Atlanta setting. Along with a cute romance, the book also delivers an incisive look at facing your fears, winning and losing, and the power of your vote.
Alert! Intriguing Discussion Ahead
I encourage book clubs to move beyond questions like, “What did you like/dislike about the book?” and “Who was your favorite character and why?” My discussion questions typically focus on ethical and moral dilemmas, book scenarios applied to real life, and character motivations.
Book Club Questions
At the start of the book, Jamie has already been inspired by Rossum, while Maya thinks he’s “another white dude in Georgia running for office.” What do you think causes Maya to change her mind and enthusiastically support Rossum? Has your opinion about a political candidate ever been turned around, for better or worse? If so, how?
Maya spends the book hoping her parents get back together. She tells Jamie that the worst thing is being in limbo, not knowing if they will get divorced or not. When have you been in limbo? What advice would you give Maya on handling her situation?
What is your opinion of Ms. Dickers based on Jamie and Maya’s interaction with her? Have you ever reached out to a political official? If so, what was your experience?
Fifi and what it represents is abstract to Jamie until his car gets tagged with a Fifi sticker, at which point the issue becomes real and upsetting to him. Have you ever experienced an issue becoming real?
When Jamie and Maya try to extend their campaigning efforts past certain boundaries, Kevin and Hannah both separately shut them down. Jamie and Maya don’t understand or agree with their friends’ reasoning. Do you?
In reference to the bill that would ban hijabs, Kevin says there are two sides to the issue, while Jamie says, “There is only one side to take—the right side.” Discuss their logic—in regard to this issue and to political issues generally.
Kevin states that people today exist in “constant outrage,” asking how bridges will be built when people on both sides are too angry to listen to each other. Maya responds (angrily) that it’s hard to be nice when her rights are being taken away. Whose perspective do you resonate with more? What value do you think each perspective has?
Halfway through the book, Maya and Sara have a fight in which Maya accuses Sara of not caring about the political issues affecting her and Sara accuses Maya of not realizing that anyone besides her has issues. Have you ever gotten so caught up in your own problems that you failed to recognize someone else’s needs? Have any of your friendships had to evolve as you and your friends change or enter new phases of life?
Gabe uses a romantic picture of Jamie and Maya to incite more votes for Rossum. Do you think Gabe went too far, or did the ends justify the means? Have you ever gone too far in the name of the greater good?
In regard to the election, what does Jamie come to understand about winning vs. losing? Do you agree that the work is the point, or do you think the work is pointless without the win?
Do you think Jamie will make a good politician someday? Defend your answer.
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