Eleanor Jones is Playing with Fire book club questions

Eleanor Jones has never gone looking for trouble... trouble just always seems to find her. Following her almost-death at the hands of someone she thought to be a friend, Eleanor is really just hoping to have a break. But, when someone starts lighting fires in Cooinda, a town that rarely experiences rainfall, and a body is found in what certainly looks like a case of murder, she simply must investigate. Particularly when she receives an anonymous, threatening note warning her to 'keep quiet'.

But who, in this small, idyllic town, has the motive for murder? And how far are they willing to go to keep their identity a secret? One things for sure, if you play with fire, someone is going to get burnt. And the more Eleanor tries to do the right thing, the more danger she finds herself in . . .

This is the third book by YA author Amy Doak. In this story she continues the adventures of Eleanor Jones, Year 11 student at Cooinda High, who, for a third time, is finding herself caught up in a major town arson attack which looks suspiciously murderous. 

Discussion points and questions

• This is the latest book in the Eleanor Jones series. Discuss three elements in this third narrative that push Eleanor’s character and her relationships further than the previous two books.
  
  
• What are some of the tropes the author has used to keep this in story firmly in the mystery genre?
  
  
• Do you think Eleanor and Min’s attitude towards fire is typical of people who have mainly lived in the city?
  
  
• How are elements of small-town communities celebrated in the book? Can you relate to any of these where you live?
  
  
• What did you think of Eleanor’s feelings towards Troy? Are you glad their relationship ended up where it did at the end of the story?
  
  
• There are several new characters in this book: Declan, Olivia and Jarrod, to name a few. How do you think the introduction of these characters has changed things for Eleanor’s core group of friends?
  
  
• Do you think Liv will become a regular member of Eleanor’s friendship group?
  
  
• Did you have certain expectations of Jarrod at the start of the story? Did he live up to them? Why or why not?
  
  
• Now that you’ve finished the story, how do you feel about Deklan and his family situation? How do you think his life will change in the coming months?
  
  
• One of the themes of the book is empathy. Who do you think shows the most empathy throughout the story?
  
  
• How has Amy expanded the town of Cooinda since the last two books? Do you feel like the world of Eleanor is expanding with each novel?
  
  
• Eleanor notices that she isn’t reading as much – how does Amy still incorporate books and literature into the story? Have you read any of the books mentioned?
  
  
• Discuss the phrase ‘embraced by the village’. Can you apply it to someone in your community or family?