PIOUS was written in such a style that makes it the perfect book for being the focus of a book club read to dissect the social context, allegories, hidden treasures, moral quandaries, and so on.

The following questions are a guideline to begin to delve deeper into the world and mind of Carpious Mightson.

  1. What specific theme(s) do you think the author emphasized throughout the novel?
  2. The author also illustrated the cover. What does the illustration have to do with the story?
  3. Does Carpious seem real and believable to you? Can you relate to his predicaments and/or struggle? Did you have sympathy for him?
  4. Can you personally relate to any of the characters? To what extent, if any, do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
  5. How do the characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events triggered those changes?
  6. In what ways do events that happen in the book reveal evidence of the author’s world view?
  7. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?
  8. When Ian is moving into the neighborhood, he drops a ragged, dog-eared Bible with half the cover missing. This same book appears at the end of the story in a completely different place. How did it get there? What do you think is the significance of this?
  9. Drew’s storyline doesn’t come to a conclusive ending. This is intentional because in real life, some struggles are ongoing. How do you think Drew’s story truly ends? Will Lela take him back? Has Drew accepted who he is?
  10. Could you have done what Sydney ultimately did? Do you think she displayed weakness or strength to do what she did?



Make sure you also check out SECRETS, but only after you’ve read PIOUS.