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Setting By: Julie Lyons
The story primarily takes place on a private island named Beechwood Island in Massachusetts. It is near Martha’s Vineyard. It is owned by Cadence’s granddad and the family goes there every summer. Each family from the Sinclair’s has their own island house. However, Cadence lives in Burlington, Vermont during the school year. The setting plays a important part in the story as the whole plot is mainly focused on Cadence’s summers there, as well as the island “accident”

Setting: Beechwood  By:Molly Yake
Beechwood is a private island in Massachusetts owned by the Sinclair family. Every summer the four Liars go to the island and spend the whole summer together. High end cabins, tennis courts, fine dining, and beautiful beaches with maids and cooks are just a few of the amenities included on Beechwood. The Sinclair family show their wealth and high class status on Beechwood island.

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Themes By: Kayelee Ryan
-love
-social class differences
-tragedy
-family
-truth/trust
-isolation
-perfection/ self-acceptance:
Ever Since, Cadence’s accident she has found difficulty in being included in the liar group, which has effected her self-confidence. Also, throughout the book the Sinclair’s have made no effort to cover the fact that they discuss Cadence’s accident and her disabilities, but they do make an effort to keep things from her. These innuendos unleash the reality that Cadence is an outsider in her family, making it difficult for Cadence to keep the “Sinclair image”.
-power of wealth: The aunts in the Sinclair family were so taken away by the idea of the inheritance being granted to them, they took aside being a parent, and responsibilities;forcing their children into the fight. This fight was so overwhelming for the grandchildren, the liars burned the Clairmont home, trying to end the feud.

Themes By: Molly Yake
Theme of love
There many forms of love in this novel. For example the intimate relationship between Gat and Cadence, and the love between the members of the Sinclair family. Gat and Cadence experience a period of closeness.; two friends become something more than just friends. The love betwen Gat and Cadence is mutual and it’s very evident to the reader that love plays a big role in this novel. The love between the Sinclair family is very strong. They all support each other and care for one another. The Sinclair family will always love and care for Cadence but she is straying away from the perfect Sinclair image. This shows the strained love in the novel.

Development of Themes By:?
- Love - Gat wants to start over his budding relationship in the romantic sense with Cadence after the incident. They are still close, despite Cadence's problems, showing their close relationship.
- Social Class Differences - Gat highlights how there are few colored people on the Island, and describes himself as Heathcliff, who was the adopted son of a family that did not accept him.
- Truth - This concept is important, but the truth of the incident is kept away from Cadence. Her search for the truth in the story show the importance of it as a theme.
- Isolation - Cadence is isolated after the incident, with none of her cousins contacting her. Even the Liars, her closest companions, did not do anything to get in touch with Cadence, leaving her feeling alone and frustrated.

Themes By:Steven
Expectations
- The three daughters of the Grandfather wanted to use their children to influence the grandfather's decisions about who receives his possessions.
- To fight against the regulations and expectations set by their parents, the Liars started a fire.

Ignorance
- Cadence is ignorant of the situation she is in, and suffers from questions that nobody will answer.
- The adults are selectively ignorant of the actions of the Liars, for some reason. This may have to do with them setting a fire a few years prior.
Suffering
-Cadence and the Sinclair family suffered from the deaths of the Liars, causing the family as a who to come closer together to grasp onto the remains of their family.

-Cadence's mother suffered her daughter's madness, as well as the possibility that Cadence set the fire, yet she continues to love her daughter.

Love
-The love shared between the Liars caused Cadence to imagine their existence as an attempt to ignore their deaths.

-Love is shared in the Sinclair family because they have already lost so much. They must love those that are left because they have experienced the lose of their precious ones.

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Key Characters By: Steven
1) The Liars - Johnny, Mirren, and Gat. Cadence's closest companions in the story. They are important because they are the most seen characters after Cadence in the story. Also, these characters create conflict and reveal information from the past.
2) Cadence's mother Penny, Johnny's mother Carrie, and Mirren's mother Bess. All are daughters of the grandfather, and sisters. They are important because they influence the story as characters with authority. It was at their behest that caused their children to avoid contacting Cadence, leaving her in isolation.
3) The Grandfather - he is important because he has the greatest authority over the family, making him the most powerful character so far. He reflects the ideas of social class differences and family through his personal beliefs. Also, he is one of the members of the family that likely know the most about the Incident.

Key Characters- By: Kayelee Ryan
1) The Liars (Johnny, Gat, Mirren, and Cadence) We were Liars revolves around these characters and what happened to them in summer 15.
-Gat (Major Character): Gat is a friend of Johnny and Cadnece’s lover. His uncle; Ed is dating Johnny’s mother; Carrie. Although Gat is an outsider, he continues to spend every summer in Beechwood with the liars. Cadence describes him as “Ambition and strong coffee”.
-Johnny(Minor Character): Johnny is one of the eldest grandchildren, his mother is Carrie. He is described as “bounce, effort and snark”. His loose personality lightens the dark mood that is portrayed throughout the novel.
-Mirren(Minor Character): Mirren is also one of the eldest grandchildren, her mother is Bess. Cadence describes her as “Sugar, curiosity, and rain”, he bossy and sophisticated personality illustrates a serious mood.
-Cadence(Major Character): Cadence is the protagonist and narrator of We were Liars. Cadence is a 17-year Old that was born into a wealthy family that owns an island called Beechwood that she revisits almost every summer. Cadence is an unreliable Character considering that she has suffered memory loss after a terrible event in summer 15. Her mother is Penny and her father left after not being able to deal with the dysfunctional Sinclair’s. Cadence beileves she is in love with Gat, but he seems to be pushing her away.
2)Harris (Major Character): Harris is Cadence’s grandad and the antagonist in We Were Liars. He owns Beechwood and the Clairmont home. He upholds all the power of inheritance.
3) The daughters of Harris; Carrie, Bess and Penny (Minor Characters): Carrie, Bess and Penny are the “aunties” in the Sinclair family. Throughout the book they only seem to care about receiving the inheritance from Grandad. These characters play a major role in creating conflicts.

Main Character By: Simon
Main Character: Cadence Sinclair Eastman
Main character and protagonist in the book. She is one of the liars(pg.7). She lives “in Burlington, Vermont with Mummy and 3 dogs”(pg.4). She is seventeen years old(almost eighteen). She is also the oldest Sincalir Grandchild. Ever since “The Accident” she has been suffering from migraines and other mental problems. Ever since her accident she has been struggling to accept herself and her difficulties.

Main Character By:Molly Yake
Cadence:
She is the protagonist of this novel and she is also one of the four Liars. She is a young teenage girl born into a wealthy family. Every summer she goes to Beechwood which is a private vacation island for all of the Sinclair family. She lives in Vermont with her mother. Her father left her when she was young. Ever since a traumatic head accident she has suffered from chronic migraines, and memory loss.

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A key character at the end of story is Cadence. We learn more about Cadence’s emotions and feelings towards Gat. She confesses that Gat will always be her fist love, and she does hate herself for the incident. She expresses moments of confusion and stupidity to the event because she is in shock of what happened. This feeling that we see unravel from Cadence is important because her emotions are usually flat, or at least she tries to keep them flat. To hear her real feelings towards herself and Gat is a important part to the story, character development, and the plot.

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Plot Development: Julie Lyons
The plot is beginning to intensify, with more questions and more conflicts arising in the story . While there are some answers to the “accident” it is not fully clear why the Liars did what they did and what happened after the fire. You can tell it is getting closer to the climax because some of the answers are starting to come through in the story. The climax is the accident itself. Right now the story is at the rising action and the iniciating force which is the family feud over Granddads money and items.
Plot Development By: Kayelee Ryan
Exposition:
-Cadnece and the relation with other Characters in the Sinclair Family
-Beechwood and the Houses
-Gat and Cadence have a relationship
Rising Action:
- There is a terrible even summer 15
-Cadence suffers from migraines
-She must recover and go to Europe instead of Beechwood summer 16
-The liars ignore her emails
Climax:
-New Clairmont
-Cadence remembers bits from summer 15
- Liars burn down Clairmont to end the feud over the inheritance
Falling Action:
-Cadnece starts to remember more
-She was the only one that escaped from the fire that was caused by the liars (Liars died)
Resolution:
-Ghost liars have to leave. They say their goodbyes after seeing them one last time
-“Be a little kinder”

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By: Julie Lyons
Emily Lockhart was born in New York in 1967. She began writing at the age of 8 for fun, but later realized she wanted a serious career in writing. She attended college at Vassar College and Columbia University for her doctorate in English Literature. None of her stories are based off real people and the purpose she writes for is to entertain. She has many other books as well which are also very sucessful. “We Were Liars” has recieved the most awards out of her books and it was written in 2014.

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One major theme we see at the end of the book is the romance between Cadence and Gat, and their feelings changing. Cadence has a hard time coming to terms with the fact that she accidentally killed the love of her love. At the end of the book, Cadence pours out her emotions for Gat and how he will always be her first love. However, Gat doesn’t pour out his emotions and just kisses Cadence goodbye. From this, Gat doesn’t seem to express the same amount of feelings for her as he once did which shows how their love has developed and faded away.

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To discuss and analyze the ending of the story and the impact of it on each of the characters. (Julie)

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Do you think that Cadence would be better off not knowing what happened with the accident? Do you think this truth will her hurt more with her sickness? Why or why not?
Cadence always talks about how much she loved Gat and how he was her real first love. However, we never hear if Gat felt the same way. Do you think Gat loved Cadence as much as Cadence loved Gat?
Why do you think Cadence always tells the truth of stories written in her fake princess stories? Do you think it is because it is hard for her to write out the truth in real life and accept it?
Despite after everything that happened in the book, Grandad still remains racist and hateful to Gat ( and others) even after he died. Why do you think the author chose to keep his character that way?
Why do you think the author chose Cadence to be the only survivor in the fire and not any of the other Liars?

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By: Julie

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1.) What’s the meaning that the author was trying to convey to the reader. What was the pourpose of the novel.
2.)Overall what did you learn from the novel. what did you take away from the story?
3.)Why were the the other members of the family not all weird when she was talking with the hallucinations.
4.)How was the family ok with her wandering the island alone all by herself without help? Shouldn’t she be monitored 24/7?
5.) Did you like the book?

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Key Focus By: Kayelee Ryan
-The characters, the relationships between them and how they change throughout the book
-Unraveling what happened before and after Cadence’s accident
-discovering the reason everything is being kept from Cadence

Key Focus for January 11th By: Julie
To understand the group of Liars as characters more, why they are acting the way they are, and why they are lying.

Key Focus for December 21st By: Julie
To focus on Cadence’s metaphors and exaggerated stories and whether they are true or not/is she a reliable source as a narrator?

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Conflict By: Molly Yake
There are many conflicts that arise especially between the characters and their relationships that have become much more strained since the beginning of the book. For Example, Gat and Cadence no longer have that close intimate relationship they once did just a few summers ago. They must act “normal” together as if nothing ever happened between them. After the death of the grandmother many conflicts have arisen within the family due to money, finances and wealth. Ever since her accident, Cadence’s life has spun out of control. It hasn’t been very pleasant for Cadence especially now she has to worry so much about her health and well being. The bonds between the Sinclair family members change every summer they meet together and no summer is like the last. The Liars return every summer as changed individuals but their lying is what has always remained the same. Cadence goes in search of some truth and discovers darker secrets about her accident.
Conflict By: Julie
A major conflict in this section is that there is tension and problems with what family member will get Grandads and the Grandmothers money and items after he passes. All of the aunts are creating a mini war over this and using the kids to get their way.
Other mini conflicts: the liars are isolating Cadence. Grandad is racist and not fond of Gat because of his skin and different lifestyle, Mirren is extremely sick, the Liars are lying to Cadence, and Cadence is starting to discover the truth about the accident.
Another one of the mini conflicts that the main character is facing, is the battle with herself. She is having trouble keeping track of how many pills she has taken and is fighting a battle against herself to try to remember what happened during the accident. She is also fighting migraines and is having trouble with her emotions/relationships.

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1) Grandad knows how important the inheritance is to the aunts, and is messing with them, because of teh inheritance Carrie and Ed can’t get married and Cadence and penny are fighting. Why do you think Grandad is messing with them, and causing more pain for the Sinclair family?
2) If Grandad and Tipper hate Ed and Gat so much, Why do you think he still lets Gat go to Beechwood every summer?- I think it’s because he doesn’t want to disappoint cadence, because he knows about their relationship.
3) Penny talks about eexpecting a bigger family, and tells Bess she will scream if she heard her say 4 kids again. Do you think Penny lost a child or had a dream of many kids?
4) Do you think Gat is pushing Cadence away because of what happened summer 15 or because he was playing with her emotions?
5)After Learning what Cadence caused, do you think she will be able to live with herself?

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The conclusion of the story is that Gat, Mirren, and Johnny died in a house fire set by the Liars on the island. The only survivor is Cadence, and she has been mentally damaged and physically affected by this. The Liars were getting tired of the family feuds for money and possessions so they lit the house on fire for a fresh start and to end the conflict. However, this did more damage than good. In the story, we learn that the Liars return as hallucinations to help Cadence remember the incident (she suffered from memory loss from the fire). Moreover, the ending was unexpected and a very big plot twist on the story.

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1) At the conclusion, when Cadence says her goodbyes to the Liars, do you believe that they were a figment of her imagination, or some kind of supernatural existence that stayed until Cadence could move on?

2) In the book, the grandfather refuses to search for the one who burned down Clairmont. Do you believe that he knew that the Liars burned his home, or was he simply to stricken with grief to work to discover the culprit?

3) How would you have reacted if you discovered that the people you have been hanging out with for the past summer were dead from 2 years ago?

4) How do you think the younger kids reacted to the death of the Liars? For example, Bonnie was described by her sister to have an interest in the supernatural and death. Do you believe that this was the result of the death of the Liars?

5) What was your interpretation of the last line "My full name in Cadence Sinclair Eastman. I suffer migraines. I do not suffer fools. I like a twist of meaning. I endure."

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1) On page 137, Cadence wonders what Gat was talking about when he says that he can't have what he wants. Do You think he is talking about a relationship with Cadence, or something else?

2) The book mentions about the deteriorating living conditions of the Liars in Cuddledown. Why do you believe that they don't choose to clean up after themselves? Also, why do you think that the adults are ignoring the group, rarely mentioning them, and letting them live on their own.

3) Do you believe that Cadence is over exaggerating her suffering? Or at least, do you think she acts differently because she wants attention?

4) On page 134, why do yo think that the Liars were lying to Cadence about going to the doughnut shop? Especially when she would call them out on the fact that they went somewhere only when Cadence was gone.

5) What kind of event happened that caused the sisters to get along? While before, they acted for their own benefit, they seem to interact more freely in the current time. What kind of situation do you believe caused this change?

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1. Why is the Sinclair family so toxic? What made them become this way? Does their wealth influence this?
2. What is the significance of the dogs being burned in the house? Why is Cadence so worked up over the death of the dogs?
3. Do you think that the Liars took it too far? Was there any other option that wasn’t burning down the island and risking lives?
4. After Cadence burns the island down she talks about the people she lost. How will Cadence deal with the guilt and the greif for the rest of her life? How will it affect her?
5. What is the significance of truth in this novel? How does it contrast the many lies within the plot?

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1. Gat keeps wanting to start over with Cadence everyday. Do you think that he feels at fault for Cadence’s issues and doesn't want to hurt her or upset her? Or is it because their relationship just isn’t working out?
2. Why do you think Mirren is all of the sudden so ill? Is it because she feels sorry for herself? Or has guilt for lying? Or was affected in the accident and has sickness now too?
3. Why are the Liars acting weird everytime Cadence has a memory or asks a question about the accident? Do you think that they have been told to lie to her or are worried that she is finding the answers out too soon?
4: Why do you think the Liars and the Sinclairs simply brushed over the fact of burning the house and not revisit it? Do you think that they (the liars) are not being honest with Cadence about the fire?
5: Grandad’s manipulative actions towards the Aunts is because of his wife passing away. Do you think he feels the need to control and use the Aunts because he no longer can control and use his wife?

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-When Mirren was choking, she said “I did too much”. Do you think she was involved in the accident too and now has trouble staying out for long periods of time?
-Cadence talks about planning her funeral rather than her wedding. Do you think this is because of her tragedy she is more alert of death or because of her depression? I think it is both. I think now that she is more alert of death her depression causes her to think more deeply about death.
-Despite how different Cadence and Gat are, and the advice to leave Gat from Jonny and Mirren, Cadence still goes after Gat. Do you think it’s because of the attention he gives her?
-Do you think the Grandad caused part of the accident or feels guilty of the accident, and paid for the Europe trip out of guilt?
-Why do you think Mirren thinks Cadence is going to hurt Gat? I think that Gat will be hurt by the amount of memories Cadence can’t remember with him in them.
-Why do you think the liars lie so much to Cadence? Wouldn’t they want to help her remember her accident?
-Do you think that all these kissing scenes with Gat are just in her head?
-Observation: The liars burned the Clairmont House because they were tired of the fight over the inheritance.

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1.)Cadence says that “we are young forever” when ontop  of the rooftop even though she should be at the point when thinking about colleges, weddings instead of funerals, the future. I don’t think that she want to let go of her past and wants to go back to how it was.
2.) The love of gat and being alone creates a Migräne for her, does this have any significance?(Pg.123)
3.)What would be the reason that all the liars would start lying? (No pun intended)
4.)why would they burn the house down instead of tell the grandfather to not let anyone inherit it? Nobodys worthy......sell it, moneys an easier thing to split up.
5.)what do you think the significance of “with everything, everything” is?

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Discussion Questions:

1. Cadence says that she “is normal because she can be” but is this truly possible when she is a Sinclair? Her family, the island, and the wealth that surrounds her are things that may be normal to her but not normal to others.

2. When Cadence and Gat are on the roof together they quit the normal act and have a real conversation together. Why has it taken this long for the two of them to truly talk to each other and share another close moment together like they usually do? Why does Cadence choose to tell Gat that she is constantly suffering from constant pain?
3.  As Cadence begins to realize that everyone has been lying to her she begins to go in search of some truth. She wants to know why she has been lied to. Why are the Liars keeping this from Cadence? Do you think they were trying to protect her from the truth?
4. When Cadence jumps off the cliff she proves to the boys that she is fine and not as fragile as they think she is. Why was Cadence so determined to jump when everyone was telling her not to? Especially considering the current condition of her health
5.  As the Sinclair family continues to fight over the grandmothers inheritance and the island, the close bonds between each member soon become toxic. Other than the death of the grandmother and renovating the island, what has caused this family to become this?

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- Cadence originally began to give away her belongings through a combination of her annoyed at her mother's excessive purchases, and to follow her belief that it was the right thing to do. In a brief moment of "insanity," she tries to get rid of all her stuff. Why does she do this? Also, why does she continue after she reunites with the Liars? What was driving her to continue this pursuit when it could have simply been a phase?
- Why do you think the Grandfather remodeled Clairmont? Do you believe it was because of the influence of her daughters, or was it due to personal preference?
- In chapter 29, we find the aunt Carrie alone in the night. Do you believe that the author is foreshadowing some kind of event with this brief instance depicted?
- Chapter 37 reveals that the 3 sisters grew closer since Cadence last remembered. Do you believe it was due to her incident, or some other reason?
- In chapter 42, when Cadence remembers a moment of her past, the author is very descriptive of the event. This causes her desperation of trying to remember to be shown. The detailed summary of the events gives the reader the feeling that Cadence is trying to grasp at the memory by reciting it as detailed as possible so it won't go away again. This also may cause the reader to question, "Is Cadence more fearful of forgetting than one make believe her to be?"

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1. How do you think the Liars relationship with one another changes every summer they see each other?
2. When Gat wants to start over his relationship with Cadence, why does she give in so easily after everything she’s been through?
3. Cadence has ovbiously changed in the 2 summers that she had missed out on. How is her change affected everyone else on the island?
4. Do you think Cadence misses all the care free days of normalcy from before her accident?
5. What is the significance of the fairly tale in chapter 40? Why would the author include this?

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1) Once Candence returns to Beechwod Island in summer Seventeen her Granddad had remodeled the Clairmont home. Do you think her Granddad remodeled the home as his way of coping with the loss of his wife, or do you think his state of confusion has a factor in the remodeling?
2) Cadence's mom tends to say "Be normal" to Cadence when she is is letting something with sentimental value go. Do you think Penny whispers her this to remind Cadence that everything will be okay? Or do you think that Penny says it out of embarrassment?
3) Throughout the book Cadence repeatedly decribes Gat as "Strong coffee". I  beileve that E.Lockhart puts this in the book to show that Cadence's family has a hard time excepting differences.
4) After Cadence's accident, she has been taking regural trips to Goodwill, and the library, giving things away such as books, her pillow, pictures and old toys. Do you think that Cadence gives away her things, because on the inside she is fearful of remembering her past?
5) Taft, Cadence, Carrie, Johnny, and Will all seem to have trouble sleeping at night. Do you think this means that they all have secrets they are dwindling on at night?
6) After talking to Aunt Carrie late one night, Cadence revisited the time by asking Carrie questions. Carrie responded by saying she didn't know what she was talking about. Do you think Aunt Carrie was up late because she was doing something others don't know about, and she figured Cadence wouldn't remember their meeting? If so, what do you think she was doing? That night, Aunt Carrie mentions that she can't sleep without Ed. I think that Aunt Carrie was having an affair and she brought up Ed, because of the feeling of guilt.

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1.)What’s the reason behind why all the aunts are acting weird? She says they are all “Huggy” and different than before the accident.
2.)Cadence notices that the new rebuilt house is empty. Why would the grandfather throw away all his things? And when cadence asks about it he gets angry?
3.)Why doesn’t the grandfather eat anything. He has to rely on other people to buy him food and even then the food is limited until the aunts came.
4.)Why do all the Little’s think Cadence is a drug addict. Is it because the aunts told them that or they just made up a name.
5.)Why is Cadence giving away all her things? What’s the motive?

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Focus for Discussion: Cadence’s exaggerations and metaphors
1: Cadence’s Grandad seems to have changed since the accident. Do you think that this has to do with Cadence changing or the accident itself?
2: Candence’s need to give away all of her stuff shows that she wants to forget her past and move on. Do you think she doesn’t want to be a Sinclair anymore? Why or why not?
3: (connection to theme) The Sinclair family is treating Cadence very differently and fragile like. Do you think that they are hiding something from her about the accident or the island itself to keep their perfect status from falling?
4: Based on the readings, it seems that the looks of houses and yourself as a Sinclair are very important. Do you think that they are using this decor and obsessiveness with looks as a escape from their own problems?
5: When Cadence returns to the island, the liars seem different than before and Cadence seems to view them as the same and not changing. Do you think that these images of Liars are all flashbacks or the Liars just haven’t changed at all since she last saw them?