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Blackout
Six critically acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning authors bring the glowing warmth and electricity of Black teens in love to this charming, hilarious, and heartwarming novel that shines a bright light through the dark.
A summer heatwave blankets New York City in darkness. But as the city is thrown into confusion, a different kind of electricity sparks…
A first meeting.
Long-time friends.
Bitter exes.
And maybe the beginning of something new.
When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths. Love blossoms, friendship transforms, and new possibilities take flight.
Beloved authors—Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—celebrate the beauty of six couples and the unforgettable magic that can be found on a sweltering starry night in the city.
This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Harpercollins.
Book club questions for Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
Which relationship in the book is your favorite? Which did you relate to most?
What gets in the way of relationships? Pride? Fear? Miscommunication? Change? Where in these stories did characters make brave, smart, unhealthy, or cowardly moves in their relationships?
Tammi and Kareem let a big misunderstanding get in the way of their relationship. What decisions caused the misunderstanding? What decisions allow them to open up again?
Tristán tells Lana he “never thought you had space to love me back” (p. 18). Mr Wright advises Kayla to give her heart “space to speak” (p. 197). What do you think they mean? How can you make space for others? For yourself?
How does the setting—New York City in a blackout—affect the action and the characters? What happens in this setting that might not have happened without the blackout?
What is the source of JJ’s fear about coming out? What do you think it would take for sports culture to change? If you were Tremaine, do you think you would forgive JJ and want to be with him?
Seymour and his friend had a falling out because their paths diverged. Grace and Seymour have a lot in common, but their paths are also quite different. Do you think their relationship will work out? If so, what will it take?
In some of these love stories, the reader knows more than the characters know. In other stories, the reasons for a character’s reticence are kept from the reader until later in the story. Do you prefer knowing characters’ secrets before they share them, or do you prefer a mystery? Which makes a more satisfying set-up for the characters to end up together?
What role do family members—especially parents and grandparents—play in the characters’ stories? To what extent do you believe family backgrounds influence future relationships? How?
Is love a process or an outcome? Can you use examples from the stories to support your point of view?
Blackout Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the Blackout discussion questions
“Blackout is a must-read for all generations.” –NPR
“This joyful collaboration brings a necessary elation to stories of Black love, queer love, and alternative forms of affection, all of which are all tenderly highlighted in these narratives." –Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“There’s plenty to smile, sigh, or swoon at here, and readers will happily keep the lights on to see these charming romances to the end.” –Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
“Rich with intersectional queer representation and light with banter, humor, and even philosophy, this beautiful collaboration hits different from your typical romance novel, ultimately evoking the warmth of greater connection, community, and belonging.” –Booklist (starred review)
“Readers in search of joyful stories of young Black love will adore Blackout.” –Bookpage (starred review)