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DIS
CUSS. REPE
AT
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NONE OF
THE ABOVE
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I.W. gregorio
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. E ven before Kristin’s diagnosis, she longs “for things to be normal 9. W hy does Dr. Cheng have Kristin take some time to think about
again” (p. 29). Why? Can you relate? What does it mean to be getting a gonadectomy? Why do you think Kristin decides to do the
“normal”? How is a desire for normalcy universally human? How is surgery? Why is the surgery controversial?
“normal” just another word for “average,” and why is it a bad thing? 10. H ow does Kristin’s mom’s death affect her—both before and after
2. D r. Cheng tells Kristin that “chromosomal sex, gender identity, and her diagnosis as intersex?
sexual orientation are all separate concepts” (p. 59). How so? Did you 11. D r. LaForte asks Kristin, “Who are you?” (p. 221). How do you
understand the difference before reading None of the Above? How are think Kristin would answer that question at the end of the novel?
the three classifications confusing? How are they interconnected? How would you answer it about yourself?
3. H ow is the term “hermaphrodite” inaccurate? What is the stigma 12. What does Kristin mean when she says that “people were still afraid
associated with it, and how is it a slur? of the Other” (p. 227)?
4. Why does Maggie Blankman’s use of the word “us” mean so much to 13. Why does Gretchen warn Kristin to “be careful of letting other
Kristin (p. 82)? people define who—and what—you are” (p. 238)? How can other
5. Why do you think Kristin tells Vee and Faith that she’s intersex? How people’s definitions distract, confuse, or harm?
does each friend react to this confession? Why does Kristin assume 14. H ow are running and hurdling used as metaphors in the novel?
what she does about the betrayal of her confidence? 15. Vee tells Kristin to “get on with your life already” (p. 284). Why does
6. Why does Sam viciously turn on Kristin? Kristin believes that “it Kristin need to hear this advice? Why is Vee the one to give it?
shouldn’t be possible to stop loving someone so quickly” (p. 121). How 16. H ow does Darren give Kristin the ability to “stand still” (p. 325)?
can it happen that quickly? Have you ever had a similar experience of Why is Darren accepting of Kristin exactly as she is when others
suddenly becoming “unloved”? are not?
7. Why do many of Kristin’s classmates resort to bullying? Why doesn’t 17. I n I. W. Gregorio’s author’s note, she poses the questions: “What does
Kristin initially view these actions as bullying? Why do other peers it mean to be a woman? What happens when you don’t fit perfectly
respond with compassion or indifference? into the gender binary? And what role does your biology play not
8. H ow does Kristin try to protect her dad? Why does she do so? only in who you love, but who loves you?” (p. 332). Discuss.