Never Let Me Go

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did the premise—that humans clone themselves to cure diseases—seem like a realistic or unrealistic possibility to you?
• Ishiguro won the Novel Prize for Literature in 2017, partly due to this novel. Which elements of the novel do you consider worthy of this award?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• One of the major themes in the text is the cost of progress. Have you ever experienced an ethical dilemma and had to consider the cost of progress?
• By the end, Ruth tries to make up for keeping Tommy and Kathy apart. Did this change your opinion of her? 
• Kathy and Ruth have a complicated friendship and do not always want the best for each other. Do you relate to their friendship in any way?
• The novel is partly about the meaning of life and what makes people human. What do these concepts mean to you?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Never Let Me Go is set in the 1990s.