Title: Losing Faith
Author: Denise Jaden
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Date of Publication: September 2010
ISBN: 978-1416996095
This reader guide may be duplicated for classroom, book club discussion group,
or related purposes.
Author biography: Denise Jaden’s short stories have appeared in various magazines,
including The Greensilk Journal and Mississippi Crow. Losing Faith is her first novel for
teens. To find out more about Denise and her writing, or to inquire about author
appearances, visit www.denisejaden.com.
Discussion Questions:
1. At the beginning of the book, Brie plans to lose her virginity to the wrong guy. If her sister hadn’t inadvertently
stopped her, would she have gone through with it? How might her life have been different if she had slept with Dustin?
2. What does Brie gain from her poetry?
3. In one of their talks, Brie tells Alis that Tessa is a good friend. What makes Tessa a good friend? How is she not a
good friend? How does Brie’s friendship with Tessa compare or contrast with her friendship with Amy?
4. Brie considers herself a follower in many ways. Discuss what does or does not make her a follower.
5. How did Brie’s spirituality change over the course of the book? How did she remain unchanged? How does Brie’s
spirituality compare or contrast with Faith’s?
6. How did Brie’s opinion of her sister change throughout the novel?
7. In what ways are Alis and Brie suited for one another? In what ways aren’t they?
8. Where do you think Brie will be a year from now? Will she still attend youth group? What about Tessa? Will Brie be a
leader or a follower?
Cross-curriculum Tie-ins:
Music - Make a playlist for Losing Faith and describe why you chose each song.
Drama - Reenact the cliff scene at the end of Losing Faith. Choose students to play Brie, Celeste, Reena, Nathan,
Alis, Tessa, and the two police officers. Write out a short script for this scene. Or, alternatively, choose a different scene
and act it out.
Activities and Projects:
1. Write an alternate ending for Losing Faith. Here are few ideas to get you started: What if Tessa had shown up on
the cliff before the police? What if Alis had gone to the neighbors for help? What if Celeste had backed out and left Brie
on her own with Reena and Nathan?
2. Write a poem describing someone in your family or one of your close friends. Try to give each line an equal number of
syllables and include events as well as descriptions.
3. Write the newspaper report or act out the TV news about Faith for the day after her death.
4. Create a Facebook account for one of the characters from Losing Faith and friend the author. Find a profile picture of
what you think the character would look like.
5. Write a new scene into the book anywhere you want it to appear.
6. Create a book trailer, or mini Youtube video for Losing Faith. Incorporate pictures, video clips, or music that you think
would tell the story of Losing Faith.
Related Reads:
If you liked this book, you may also enjoy:
Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen
Looking For Alaska, by John Green
Once Was Lost, by Sara Zarr
Author: Denise Jaden
Publisher: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Date of Publication: September 2010
ISBN: 978-1416996095
This reader guide may be duplicated for classroom, book club discussion group,
or related purposes.
Author biography: Denise Jaden’s short stories have appeared in various magazines,
including The Greensilk Journal and Mississippi Crow. Losing Faith is her first novel for
teens. To find out more about Denise and her writing, or to inquire about author
appearances, visit www.denisejaden.com.
Discussion Questions:
1. At the beginning of the book, Brie plans to lose her virginity to the wrong guy. If her sister hadn’t inadvertently
stopped her, would she have gone through with it? How might her life have been different if she had slept with Dustin?
2. What does Brie gain from her poetry?
3. In one of their talks, Brie tells Alis that Tessa is a good friend. What makes Tessa a good friend? How is she not a
good friend? How does Brie’s friendship with Tessa compare or contrast with her friendship with Amy?
4. Brie considers herself a follower in many ways. Discuss what does or does not make her a follower.
5. How did Brie’s spirituality change over the course of the book? How did she remain unchanged? How does Brie’s
spirituality compare or contrast with Faith’s?
6. How did Brie’s opinion of her sister change throughout the novel?
7. In what ways are Alis and Brie suited for one another? In what ways aren’t they?
8. Where do you think Brie will be a year from now? Will she still attend youth group? What about Tessa? Will Brie be a
leader or a follower?
Cross-curriculum Tie-ins:
Music - Make a playlist for Losing Faith and describe why you chose each song.
Drama - Reenact the cliff scene at the end of Losing Faith. Choose students to play Brie, Celeste, Reena, Nathan,
Alis, Tessa, and the two police officers. Write out a short script for this scene. Or, alternatively, choose a different scene
and act it out.
Activities and Projects:
1. Write an alternate ending for Losing Faith. Here are few ideas to get you started: What if Tessa had shown up on
the cliff before the police? What if Alis had gone to the neighbors for help? What if Celeste had backed out and left Brie
on her own with Reena and Nathan?
2. Write a poem describing someone in your family or one of your close friends. Try to give each line an equal number of
syllables and include events as well as descriptions.
3. Write the newspaper report or act out the TV news about Faith for the day after her death.
4. Create a Facebook account for one of the characters from Losing Faith and friend the author. Find a profile picture of
what you think the character would look like.
5. Write a new scene into the book anywhere you want it to appear.
6. Create a book trailer, or mini Youtube video for Losing Faith. Incorporate pictures, video clips, or music that you think
would tell the story of Losing Faith.
Related Reads:
If you liked this book, you may also enjoy:
Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher
The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen
Looking For Alaska, by John Green
Once Was Lost, by Sara Zarr
| READER/DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR LOSING FAITH |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
