A Spark of Light

Picoult structures A Spark of Light in reverse chronological order, beginning with the ending of the standoff. How does this unusual narrative technique contribute to the development of the novel’s themes?

The novel follows a large cast of characters and allows readers to enter into many different viewpoints. How does this technique shape the novel’s ideas and themes?

Joy and Janine are often paired throughout the text. In what ways are they different, and in what ways are they similar? How does this pairing relate to the novel’s thematic arc?