Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for A Second Chance on Earth by Juan Vidal

1. Marcos is grieving the sudden death of his father in an accident. Discuss the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Trace Marcos's journey through each stage of grief. Cite specific passages from the book to support your thoughts. Explain what Marcos means by "There's a trapped lion /alive and raging / inside my lungs" (p. 3).
2. Everyone is telling Marcos that he is the man of the house now. Read the poem "Two Voices in My Head" (p. 81). How is Marcos conflicted about his new role? In what way does he feel responsible for Daniela, his younger sister? Debate whether Marcos feels more like a man when he returns from Colombia.
3. Marcos finds a copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel GarcÍa Márquez among his father's things. In what way does the novel help Marcos better understand his father? How does it guide him through the grieving process? He learns that this is a special book to Camilo. Explain why Camilo is so drawn to the book.
4. Marcos is anxious to go where he can feel his father. What is his reaction when he learns that his family is going to deliver his dad's ashes to his hometown of Cartagena, Colombia? Why does he wish he had come to Colombia alone? What does Marcos mean by "Is home a person or is it a place?" (p. 139). How does he find both in Cartagena?
5. Contrast Miami and Cartagena. Marcos has few sketchy memories of Colombia from visits when he was very young. How do his father's stories make Colombia feel familiar? How does riding around with Camilo in his taxi help Marcos understand the city Papi called "sacred ground"?
6. Describe Papi. How was he a dreamer? In what way was Papi a hero to Marcos? Papi was a storyteller, especially about his native country of Colombia. Discuss why Marcos holds tight to those stories. Explain what he means by "I guess that / makes me some / kind of a hoarder. / But instead of / precious metals, / I'm a hoarder of / tales and anecdotes / I hope to never lose" (pp. 9–10). How does holding on to these stories keep his dad alive? Discuss the poem "Papi Stares Back at Me" (p. 135). What are the traits that Marcos inherited from Papi?
7. Describe Camilo. What secrets does he hold? Explain what Marcos means by "He's [Camilo] got a darkness inside / that feels honest; it's a darkness / I share" (p.89). To what darkness is Marcos referring? He is confused by Camilo's reaction at the sight of a cop. At what point does Camilo reveal the reason fo his reaction? Why does Marcos decide that he needs some space from Camilo? At what point does he feel he must see Camilo again?
8. Devon and Hector are Marcos's best friends. Discuss what Marcos means by "Sometimes we're the / Three Wise Men / and other times / the Three Blind Mice" (p. 26). Contrast Devon and Hector. In what way is Devon the brother Marcos wishes he had?
9. Dealing with grief is clearly one of the themes of the book. How is the novel also about friendship, family, and forgiveness? Cite passages from the novel to support your thoughts. Marcos is a poet. How is the first-person narration in free verse an effective way of telling the story? Explain the title of the book.

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Holiday House. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.