Speeding Bullet [Paperback]

After Nick Herrera saved a little girl from being his by a New York City subway car, things have been different....Hehas been different. Now it seems as if accidents are falling at his feet and he's destined to play the role of the hero. But more importantly, Linda Lanko, one of the richest girls in the city, has noticed him -- a below-average student from a poor family. But is Nick's invincibility just good luck, or is something else responsible?A Reading Group Guide for:

Speeding Bullet
by Neal Shusterman

About the Book
After he saves a little girl from a speeding subway train, Nick Herrera is a hero. And when he saves an elderly man from an apartment fire, Nick becomes a celebrity. While Nick struggles with what it all means — is he just lucky, or is it his destiny to save people? — his best friend, Marco, wants to exploit his sudden fame to help Nick, and himself, get rich. Soon Nick draws the attention of Linda Lenko, daughter of one of the city’s wealthiest developers — and she decides she has to protect him, even if it means destroying his faith in himself.

Discussion Topics
• How do you define a hero? Give some examples. What do you think could be some negative aspects of being a hero?

• Have you ever been faced with a rapidly moving life-or-death choice (like the one Nick faced when the little girl fell on the subway tracks)? What choice did you make? If you haven’t been in that kind of situation, what choice do youthink— or hope — you would make?

• Aside from Nick, who do you think is the most heroic character in the novel? Why?

• The question of fate versus coincidence plays a large part in the book. Nick continually wonders if he is part of some unseen plan, or simply lucky — but he is too terrified to find out the answer. Why do you think Nick is afraid of finding out? What do you think the ló,