Study questions
Chapter 1 to 5:
1. How does the book start?
The book starts with a flashback to when the main characters were still young, in
Hailsham.
2. Who is Kathy and what does she do?
Kathy is in the flashback a child that goes to Hailsham. Later in the book, she
becomes a carer and in the end of the book, she says that it is time for her to start
with the first donations.
3. What do you know about Ruth and Tommy?
Ruth and Tommy are friends of Kathy. In Hailsham, they start having a relationship.
When they are in the cottages, they still have a relationship. Ruth lies a lot about
things. In the beginning of the book is Tommy very lonely, he gets bullied.
4. What is Hailsham?
Hailsham is one of the schools where the children go to school before they become
carers or donors.
5. Who are the guardians?
The guardians are Miss Lucy, Miss Emily and Miss Geraldine. They are the teachers
of the children.
6. Explain the Exchanges and the Exchange Tokens.
At the Exchanges, you can buy stuff from other students. The children must make
creative things, the best piece of art that they made themselves, gets taken with
Madame.
The Exchange Tokens are tokens that can be spend on decorations for their room
and to buy stuff at The Sales.
7. What can you say about the writing style in the book?
The story is written in Kathy’s me-perspective. We only get her perspective on the
things that are happening. Kathy explains everything, even the smallest details about
things.
In the book are two flashbacks. Hailsham and the Cottages.
8. What is Madame’s Gallery and what would be it’s purpose?
Madame’s Gallery is the place where she keeps all the art. They needed to make art
to prove that they have souls.
Chapter 1 to 16:
1. What is so significant about Ruth’s pencil case?
Ruth says that she got the pencil case from Miss Geraldine, but she actually bought it
at the Sales.
2. What is the ‘Lost Corner’?
The Lost Corner is Norfolk. The story is that everything that you lose will end up in
Norfolk. They also have a Lost Corner in Hailsham.
3. Madame walks in on Kathy doing what? Why do you think Madame starts crying?
Madame walked in when Kathy was listening to her tape that she got from Tommy.
She was listening to the song ‘Never let me go’. This song reminds Madame of
something what made her cry.