The Year We Disappeared is told in two distinct voices. Describe what each author brings to the story. How would the narrative be different if John or Cylin alone had written it?

The story uses an alias for Raymond Meyer, a strategy John initially disagrees with. He wants to use Meyer’s real name, to expose the truth, but Cylin doesn’t want to revisit the name or give it power. Consider the motivations behind each. How might using Meyer’s real name confer power to John, and how might using an alias confer power to Cylin?

Prior to the shooting, the Busby children take their freedom for granted (they play in the cemetery adjacent to their house, they visit their neighborhood friends without asking permission). How does the loss of that freedom impact them? How does it impact John and Polly?