Superfan

What does superfandom mean to you and how do you feel the novel depicts it?

The novel takes place in 2014. How did you feel the book captured that time period and the era of fandoms in the 2010s? Do you feel the book would have been very different if it had taken place in the present moment?

The dual-POV narration structure lets us see both Minnie’s imagined reality of the boys versus Eason’s actual reality. What are the disconnects of what Minnie imagines or perceives compared to what the boys actually experience? How do you think this reflects our relationship with celebrities?

Throughout the book, we get posts from the HOURglass fandom message board, The Heaven, such as “Have you ever imagined what the boys would be like as boyfriends?” and “DEATH to that DJ for how he treated the boys.” What did you think of these interludes and what sort of impression did they give you of the fandom?

Much of Superfan touches on loneliness, and how online forums and friendships can act as community. Do you believe The Heaven provided fulfilling friendships or community for Minnie?

Throughout the book, we get glimpses into Eason’s inner life such as his feelings of isolation within the band and his troubled family life. How would you characterize Eason’s conflicting feelings about fame and performance?

What did you think of the idea of Eason’s familial curse? How do you feel it has shaped Eason’s life?

Superfan interrogates the power dynamic inherent in the artist-fan relationship. While performing, the members of HOURglass shout at the crowd, “We are yours and you are?” to which the fans scream back, “Ours.” Who do you believe has the power in this dynamic?

Minnie tells Akash that the boys have been there for her in a way other people haven’t. Do you think this is true?

Anna tells Minnie to “Be here, too.” What do you think she means by this?

How are Minnie’s and Eason’s journeys similar? How do they diverge?

How do you feel Eason’s persona as Halo differs from his “true self,” if at all? Do you think the two personas shift or meld over the course of the book?

Discuss the similarities and differences between Eason and Julian. How are the two boys’ approaches to music and fame similar or different?

In Eason’s chapters, the reader gets a behind-the-scenes look into the ways musicians and their teams manipulate their fans for fame. In Minnie’s chapter, we see that the fans believe they have a responsibility to protect and speak for the boys. What do you think Superfan is trying to say about the elements of performance that artists and fans are forced into both on and off the stage?

Throughout the book, Minnie often looks for belonging and community in various groups and people. Do you think she has found it by the end of the book?

In the final chapter, we are only privy to Minnie’s perspective as she watches Halo performing. Do you find Eason’s ending to be victorious or empty?

Discuss the novel’s epilogue. Were you surprised by the direction that Minnie’s and Eason’s lives have taken? How does Minnie’s understanding of herself and her place in the world change over the course of the book?