ephemeral entries

I'm leading a library Zoom discussion on this 2005 Newbery Medal (YA) winner next week. Discussion prompts:

1. The two sisters each think of the other as having saved them from the dog. Are they both right? How does this relationship hold up during the book?
2. Humor is mixed in with the grief of the story.  How did the balance work for you?
3. What's the longest road trip you've taken? How did it compare to the Takeshima family's trip?
4. How did the family deal with the move from Iowa to Georgia? 
5. While finishing up the trip to Georgia, Katie notices that every Georgia town declares some claim to fame. Have you noticed towns in Maryland that do this? Do you remember any other town-identity signs from your travels? (e.g., Webster, NY "Where Life is Worth Living").    
6. Who else laughed when Katie's dad told her what the "B" word meant ("Bad Lady", referring to the mean woman at the hotel), and told her not to tell her her mom he'd told her? 
7. What did you think of the chess in this story compared to *The Queen's Gambit* that some of us read earlier?
8. What did you think of the way the story portrayed the main adults?
9. Did you have a favorite character? (mom, dad, Katie, Lynn, Sammy, Uncle Katsuhisa, Silly, others)?
10. Lynn keeps a diary. Have you ever maintained a diary for long? Have you read any diaries?
11. What did you think of the portrayals of racism in the story?  Were they age-appropriate? Should the story have gone farther? 
12. The chicken processing plant has long and hard hours, but also emphasizes hygiene. How does this compare to other food-related jobs you've read about in books? 
13. What are examples of kindness of strangers shown in this book? 
14. How did Katie's dad and Katie's stress/grief coping mechanisms compare?
15. Is there a scene or quote you'd like to share and discuss?
16. Would you recommend this book to others?

• https://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_guides/detail/index.cfm/book_number/1522/kirakira