Pack Up the Moon

Lauren and Joshua have to deal with a huge swerve from the life they had planned. Have you ever had to deal with something unexpected and life-changing? How did you cope?

Do you think Lauren and Joshua love each other so much because of or despite her illness?

Do you think the nature of Lauren’s love for Joshua changed as she grew sicker? Do you think the way Joshua loved Lauren changed as she grew sicker? In what ways?

How do you think Lauren’s illness changed her? How did it change Joshua?

In what ways do you see that Joshua went through what Elisabeth Kübler-Ross defined as the Five Stages of Grief?

Lauren wrote letters to her father after he died to help cope with his death. Do you think that’s why she turned to writing the letters to leave for Josh? Do you think it was her way of coming to terms with her own death? Why else might she have chosen to write him letters?

Lauren talks about how “perfect” her sister is, but never feels any kind of jealousy toward her. Why do you think they were so closely bonded, both in childhood and later?

Consider Sarah’s confession to Josh that she was jealous of Lauren growing up, and the guilt she felt about it for much of their friendship. Do you think it’s possible to love a friend and be jealous of them at the same time?

As Lauren had instructed, Josh visits a medium to try connecting with her in “the GB.” Though it’s way out of his comfort zone, he’s moved and surprised by the reading. What are some experiences you’ve had outside of your comfort zone? What compelled you to go through with them, and how did they go?

Why do you think Lauren’s mother met a man she was attracted to after Lauren had died?

How did you feel about Josh meeting his biological father?

Lauren and Josh didn’t have a “love at first sight” moment; in fact, they had a terrible first conversation. Why do you think their second meeting went differently?

Now that we’ve come to know Lauren and Josh’s relationship and the powerful, deep connection they shared, what do you think about Lauren’s last task? Would you suggest the same thing if you were in her shoes, or something different?

Do you think all of the tasks Lauren gave Josh helped him? Are there any you think she should have skipped?

Clearly, Lauren believes in the Great Beyond throughout the book. Joshua talks about how he started out as an atheist and ended up as one as well, even as he prayed for Lauren in between. But in the end, do you think Joshua believed in a higher power or afterlife? Why?