Reading Group Discussion Questions

The Opposite of Music by Janet Ruth Young

These questions can be used as discussion starters for both teens and adults. Would you like to share your views with the author? Janet will visit book groups within 50 miles of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and participate by phone in groups that meet outside that area. Click on Contact at left to schedule a visit.

1. Many books about depression focus on the depressed person, but this one pays more attention to the surrounding family. It shows that the illness of one family member can affect all members differently. How has Bill's depression affected Billy? How has it affected the other members of the family? In what ways are their reactions similar or different?

2. During Bill Sr.'s illness, Billy, Linda, and their mother develop various attitudes toward dealing with friends and others outside the family. Discuss the way each treats friendships during a family crisis. Which family member comes closest to the way you deal with "outsiders" during a tough time for your family?

3. Billy is a boy with responsibility for taking care of another person. How usual is it for a boy or man, rather than a girl or woman, to be a caregiver? Are there differences in the ways males and females take care of other people?

4. The author uses multiple formats to tell this story. Some examples are the treatment report on page 63, the song on page 93, the dialogue on page 209, and the articles on pages 268-278. Why might the author have chosen to do this? What do the multiple formats reveal about Billy and the way he thinks or how he experiences what's happening to him? What effect do these multiple formats have on your experience of the story?

5. Billy and his family are faced with a number of decisions. Which of their decisions do you agree with, and which do you not agree with? Should they have done anything differently?

6. Billy's family tries both conventional medicine (such as counseling and antidepressants) and alternative treatments (such as aromatherapy) as routes to Bill Sr.'s recovery. How does the Morrison family's experience agree with or contrast with your experience with doctors, medications, the medical profession, or alternative remedies you may have tried? How does their experience compare to your experience with "experts" in any field whom you've relied on for help?

7. Billy's mother relies heavily on her kids to help her care for Bill Sr. and make decisions regarding his treatment. Towards the end of the book (page 261) she says, "I'm the only one who can decide." At what point does she take control of the family's decision-making in regard to Bill's illness? Should she have taken control earlier? And how does her decision to delegate affect Billy and Linda, or how might it affect them in the future?

8. How might Billy and his family have benefited from having more information about or experience with mental illness when the story began? In an age when most people have some knowledge of psychology, mental illnesses, and psychiatric medications, how useful is that information in living our daily lives?

9. Do Billy, Linda, and Adele do too much to try to help Bill Sr.? Too little? How much is too much when you're caring for an ill family member?

10. What future do you see for this family? How will Bill's illness and recovery affect Billy and Linda as they move on with their lives? How will it affect the relationship between the parents?

11. Do you think Billy's new ambition to become a psychologist is real, or is it a temporary choice based on spur-of-the-moment feelings? What experiences have you had as a child or teenager that have influenced your choice of occupation?