Brooklyn Motto

The book opens with Nico sharing how his late father has influenced him in many ways, including how he notices and remembers things, as well as how he appreciates film and music. Throughout the book, how do you see this come into play? What does Nico’s father’s apartment represent to Nico?

How do Finch and Nico know each other? How do Wally and Nico know each other? How does Nico become involved in Finch’s death?

Oftentimes Nico will find himself at a New York City bar to cope with what’s going on in his life—whether that be dealing with the grief from his father’s death, his unstable employment and housing, or his relationships. How does Nico’s consistent presence in New York City bars affect the plot?

“It’s French Connection time.” Throughout the book, there are many references to different movies and films. What does film mean to Nico and his father? How does film influence how Nico interprets his life in New York City?

Setting in Brooklyn Motto makes its appearance just as often as any character might. How does the setting of late 1990s New York contribute to the atmosphere of the novel? What would have been different if Nico’s story took place in a different era?

Who is Cookie in relation to Nico? Why does Cookie not trust Nico at first in sharing about Katie?

Why does Nico become involved in solving Katie’s murder?

How did Nico’s parents’ relationship and Nico’s family relationships influence how he sees himself?

What does Maggie’s bar hopping plan say about her? What does Nico’s response to Maggie’s bar hopping plan say about him?

How does Nico determine whether or not he can trust other people, like Cookie, Finch, Detective Hong, Maggie, Frankie, Wally, etc.? Does he truly trust other people?

“The corruption is always gonna be there. But the perception of the corruption, that’s the big bad.” Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?

Do you think Nico gets closure for Finch and Katie’s deaths? Why or why not?

“You can either fight the current, or steer through it.” Throughout the book, Nico teeters on the precipice of “doing the right thing,” while making his own mistakes. By the end of the book, you see Nico have a strong sense of justice especially for his father, Finch, Katie, and the treatment of others. What does justice and moral good mean to Nico by the end of the book? How has that changed from the Nico at the beginning of the book?

What relationship did you have to New York City prior to reading the book? How does the New York City represented in the book impact your own experience with New York (the good, bad, magical, and dirty)?