Embittered Ruby (45 page)

3.  What two words would you choose to describe yourself?

4.  What is one way Carmen shows prejudice in her own thoughts in this chapter?

1.  Have you read book one,
The Wishing Pearl
? If so, does Carmen have an accurate impression of Olivia? Why or why not?

2.  Describe how Olivia feels about God’s presence in her life.

3.  If she were a friend of yours and said those things to you, how would you respond?

1.  What do you think about the unity candle service at the wedding? Should the individual candles be blown out as the two become one, or should they leave them lit as a symbol of individuality?

2.  What scheme does Carmen devise to split up Olivia and Justin?

3.  Will it work?

1.  What does it mean to be undignified before God? Read about King David in 2 Samuel 6:21–22.

2.  Why would Carmen take so many chances, like hanging out with Billy, Sam, and Kansas under the stairwell and smoking pot?

3.  What’s Billy’s story?

1.  If Carmen were visited by the ghosts of Christmas future, what do you think she’d learn about herself if she doesn’t surrender to God? What if she does?

2.  How many lies did Carmen tell Olivia in the bathroom?

3.  Should Carmen help Roxy?

1.  How can we tell that Carmen has truly mastered the art of deception?

2.  Why does she want to go home already?

3.  Why did Ben say Carmen’s feelings of hopelessness were a good sign?

1.  Considering all of her internal dialogue as well as the actual events, what do you think are the real reasons Carmen runs away?

1.  Do you think Billy is acting out in response to grief? In what ways?

2.  Is there evidence that suggests Billy isn’t the big party animal Carmen had once assumed?

3.  What about Kansas? How is she different from Billy?

1.  Was it fair for Carmen to call Nate, or should she have left him alone?

2.  What did he get upset with her about?

3.  Why does Carmen turn to drugs?

1.  What are the two main things Nate wants to see from Carmen?

2.  What more do we learn about Billy?

1.  Why does Olivia offer forgiveness to Carmen even though Carmen didn’t ask for it?

2.  Why is Carmen ready for friendship now when she wasn’t ever before?

1.  How many times will Ben forgive Carmen and let her come back? How many times will God?

2.  Donna says that forgiveness is always available, but that sometimes there’s no possible repair for actions. Do you think that’s true?

3.  How has gossip caused damage to innocent people in this story?

1.  How did the phone call with her family go?

2.  Summarize what Carmen’s mom said about receiving God’s forgiveness.

3.  Is it good that Carmen says good-bye to Nellie? Why?

1.  What does Carmen discover about herself when she learns the truth about the stranger in the car?

2.  She digs a little deeper with Donna on the subject of prejudice. What does she learn?

1.  Do you think Carmen was fair to Nate? Why did he think she wasn’t?

2.  Can you think of anything else Carmen could have done to try to fix things with Leila?

3.  Why is Nate having such a hard time letting go even though Carmen did horrible things to him? Is it out of love or fear of being alone?

4.  What reason does Carmen give Billy for not wanting a relationship with him at that time?

5.  Could you consider choosing God over a boy?

1.  What did Carmen mean by this statement: “I feel free
from
myself and free to
be
myself”?

2.  Describe the symbolism behind Carmen’s graffiti.