A Reading Group Guide to The Adjustment By Suzanne Young About the Book Tatum Masterson never went through The Program. She never had her memory stripped, never had to fight to remain herself. But when Wes, her longtime boyfriend and the love of her life, was taken by handlers, she hoped he''d remember her somehow--that their love would be strong enough. It wasn''t. Like all returners, Wes came back a blank canvas. The years he and Tatum spent together were forgotten, as well as the week when he mysteriously disappeared before The Program came for him. Regardless of his memory loss, Tatum fights to get Wes to remember her. And just as they start to build a new love, they hear about the Adjustment--a new therapy that implants memories from a donor.
Despite the risks, Tatum and Wes agree to go through the process. Tatum donates her memories from their time together. But the problem with memories is that they are all a matter of perspective. So although Wes can now remember dating Tatum, his emotions don''t match the experiences. And this discrepancy is slowly starting to unravel him, worse than anything The Program could have done. And as the truth of their life together becomes clear, Tatum will have to decide if she loves Wes enough to let him go, or to continue to live the lie they''d build together. Discussion Questions 1. What can you do to get help if you, or someone close to you, exhibits signs of depression? Who are safe, reliable people in your life whom you can turn to? 2.
Some familiar characters seep into this installment of the Program series--Sloane, James, Realm, Quinlan, Dr. McKee, Marie, and Reed. Recall each of them, and their relation to the events and circumstances leading up to The Adjustment . 3. Tatum questions, "What if the Program took away our ability to feel by making us hide it for so long? What if none of us is real?" Later, a returner says, "''Did you ever think they''re the ones who are crazy? . And the returners are the only ones who are real?''" How are feelings felt --do you consider this to be an active or passive human process? How do feelings relate to being "real"? 4. Describe the community in which Tatum lives and goes to school. How would you characterize the people, the values, and even the dominant political orientation within it? What clues point to the economic status of Tatum''s family, and the families in her community? How has Tatum''s environment shaped her as a person? How has your environment shaped you? 5.
What is the importance of timing in a relationship? Are some couples naturally, automatically, compatible--regardless of the circumstances through which they meet? How much does the longevity of a relationship depend on these beginning circumstances? Would Tatum and Wes''s initial connection have been as strong if they had met at a different time in their lives? Or in a different place? Surrounded by different people? 6. What is the basis of Wes and Tatum''s love? Are Wes and Tatum, in fact, in love? How does love happen ? To what extent do people have control over who and how they love? Is the way we love wired in our body''s chemistry, or is it influenced by social or environmental factors? 7. Tatum considers Wes''s return to her as, arguably, inevitable; "like his heart remembers even as his brain doesn''t." Do you agree? How much of memory stems from the brain, and how much of memory is housed in the heart? What does it mean for memory to be related to "heart"? How and when else do the heart and mind agree--or disagree? When Wes has the negative reaction to the Adjustment, Dr. McKee rationalizes, "''In plain terms, his heart and head don''t agree.''" What does it look and feel like when one''s heart and mind is in disagreement? 8. Tatum concludes, "memory is life in reverse." Later, she worries that "the present is influencing my perspective on the past.
" What does this mean? Discuss. 9. As Wes reacquaints himself with Tatum, he expresses curiosity in knowing who he is when he is with her. At times, he directly asks her about his preferences. Are likes and dislikes fixed, within a person--or are preferences subject to change? How might some of your personal interests be influenced by others? Think about your taste in music, movies, food, and clothing. Would you have the same interests under different life circumstances? 10. Wes often struggles with juxtaposing the different "versions" of himself--before and after The Program. To what degree does identity, or sense of self, fluctuate in life? Is it ingrained? Can it be manipulated? Can it change naturally? What might cause someone to become a different version of him- or herself in today''s world? Do you believe it''s possible for a person to embrace multiple versions of him or herself at the same time? 11.
Why doesn''t Nathan particularly care for Wes? How does Tatum reconcile this? Would you be able to date someone your best friend doesn''t like? 12. When Wes warms to the idea of riding his motorcycle again, he admits that it "sounds normal." What about it resonated as normal? On what was he likely basing normalcy? How do you define "normal"? 13. How much of Wes''s amnesia is because of The Program? Is it possible for people to lose memories, naturally? To what extent do you believe in the power of denial? How does it relate to what Dr. McKee refers to as "self-erasure"? How might denial impact Tatum''s memories? 14. Why did Wes seem to remember Tatum''s love of cherries? Why did that memory endure, and not others? 15. When Tatum and Wes go downtown to see the local band play, Tatum remarks that she feels at ease among the older crowd: "The crowd was a nice change from the people we were normally around. These people were over eighteen--the fear wasn''t the same in them.
" To what fear is she referring? Thinking back, why were teens especially susceptible to the epidemic that led to The Program and ultimately the Adjustment? How come adults seemed less at risk? 16. Consider the theme of protection in The Adjustment . Who is protecting whom? Who is responsible for protecting whom? What does protection mean in a parent-child relationship? How does it play into a platonic friendship? A romantic relationship? Consider these references in the narrative: "I think the parents in this district will only be happy when we''re all put in individual bubbles, completely protected (and isolated) from the outside world." "''The Program''s dead, Pop. It''s time you let me protect myself.''" "''The school board is . They are concerned. Seems several members are worried about another outbreak.
A parent brought it to their attention.''" "Because my grandparents love me unconditionally. And that means they would never try to manipulate me." "''The monitor wants safeguards. Which, of course . means control.''" "I have no reason to doubt [my grandparents]." 17.
On that note, explore the theme of control in The Adjustment . Who controls whom? What are the tools of control that people use in this environment? Consider Tatum''s realization--"There''s that word again: control . Seems a simple concept, but in reality, it''s harder to define. One person''s freedom may equal another person''s control." What are the tools of control you observe in your environment? In society, at large? 18. What was your initial impression of The Adjustment''s facility, when Tatum and Wes came upon it? Did you foresee any red flags in the way she described its physical appearance and attributes? How about in the process, especially the pace of the process, through which Wes underwent the Adjustment? 19. How do the tenets of The Adjustment compare to those of The Program? How are they different? What might they have, surprisingly or not, in common? 20. In reflecting back on society''s initial acceptance of The Program, Tatum concludes, "Even if we weren''t clear on the methods, we accepted the results.
" Interestingly, Jana supports The Adjustment for similar reasons. Have you ever experienced a situation in which the means justified the end, as such? Can good intentions ever outweigh the potential for negative results? Is this line of thinking ever justifiable in your world, or the world around you? 21. Part of the philosophy of The Adjustment is "No one wants a life half lived." In today''s reality, what does it take to live your life fully? How might a life be half lived? 22. Dr. McKee suggests that some people are "just not meant to be together. No matter how much they love each other." Do you agree? 23.
Suzanne Young explores the theme of secrets throughout The Adjustment . How do secrets, or the lack thereof, influence relationships? Is it okay to keep secrets from your romantic partner? Your friends? Your family? When? What is the difference, or intersection between, secrets and privacy? What is the difference between a secret and a lie? Is it ever okay to lie to those you love? What would Tatum say to all of this? Wes? Nathan? Tatum''s grandparents? Consider these references to secrets and lies, as they relate to Tatum''s relationships and the ones she observes around her: "I''ve seen too many people afraid to share things with their parents. It happened all the time with The Program. But I''ve never had to worry about keeping secrets. And it''s probably why I''m still here today." "We also decided to keep it a se.