ABOUT THE BOOK
The devil has come to Devil Springs.
Except he hasn't. Not at all. But try and tell that to Mayor Avis Kneller.
This is not the senior year Mesa Merritt pictured. She’s already suffered through her grandmother Avis’s restrictive dress code and no boy rule. Now Avis ratchets up her expectations and declares spiritual warfare on behalf of the town's teens. (Stupid skinny dipping cheerleaders and their stupid Facebook posts.)
Mesa is sick of being bullied into fake piety, but standing up to Avis will mean losing the small freedoms she does have including her spot on the cross country team. Most unfortunate since she’s started training with the yummiest possible running partner, Cody Howard. But when she won’t get baptized as Avis mandates, her alienation begins. (Public schoolers sneaking alcohol into the pastor’s daughter’s party--so not helping.)
The devil may not have come to Devil Springs, but judgement has. Mesa is left hopeless in its wake until a storm rolls in on top of Avis’s devil-banning march. Mesa’s neighbor with autism goes missing during the chaos, and Mesa needs a swell of faith, as least in herself, to find him.
DEVIL SPRINGS released April 28, 2020,
but sadly, its small press publisher closed. I have a few copies left for $15 (contact me using the form), or you can look for used copies online. While I do have the rights back for this novel, I have no plans for republishing it at this time.
Devil Springs Book Group Questions and Printable Resource
Devil Springs Discussion Questions
1. The book opens with a line about family loyalty. How does the theme of loyalty to family, faith, and friendship shift throughout the novel?
2. Mesa is not friends with her best friend Kenzi’s cheerleader friends. Have you ever had a close friend whose friends you didn’t like? How did you work through that?
3. Mesa has to follow conservative clothing and stricter cell phone rules than her peers. Have you ever had to obey a rule that didn’t seem fair? If you question authority (at home, a religious institution or school) what could happen?
4. After church Mesa notes that “fellowshipping” is mixed up with “politicking” for Avis who is also the mayor. Throughout the book, Avis’s religious beliefs affect her town policies. Is it okay for church and politics to mix? Why or why not?
5. Avis is overtly judgmental, and in her own way, Mesa can be too. Identify areas in the book where Mesa is judgmental. When has she been right and when she has been wrong? (Wait. Is that a judgmental question?)
6. Mesa is named after a place significant to her parents. How did you get your name?
7. Drew, Mesa’s friend and neighbor, has Fragile X Syndrome. Are there moments when her ableism misguides her friendship with him? Explain.
8. Mesa is made fun of for being so tall, and there is a moment in the story when Mesa is upset with a student who insults Drew for his disability. Have you ever experienced bullying? What did you do to defend yourself or someone else?
9. Mesa is ready to graduate high school and maintains a count of days until the freedom she equates with this milestone, but she reconsiders leaving town when some of her relationships change. What do you think Mesa will do after she graduates?
10. Towards the end of the book, Mesa is ostracized because she’s misquoted. Have you ever been unfairly misrepresented? If so, how did you feel?
11. When Cody stops talking to Mesa, are you mad at him? Do you think they are a good couple?
12. Yancey is awesome. Yes or yes? (Okay, a little author bias coming in there.)
13. What was your favorite moment in the book and why?
