The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness, death, antigay bias, and ableism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you think of the friendship between Lenni and Margot, and why do you think the two characters bonded so closely? Which moments in their lives did you find the most moving?

2. Are you familiar with Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie, a nonfiction book that also centers around an intergenerational friendship? If so, compare and contrast the books’ life-affirming lessons and the ways the authors handle heavy subjects like death and illness. If not, what other novels would you compare this to, and why?

3. What did you think of the novel’s open-ended resolution? Did you find it a satisfying conclusion to Margot’s character arc and the story’s themes? Why or why not?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. One of the primary ways that Lenni and Margot bond is by painting together. Within your own life, what shared activities help you feel close to your friends and loved ones?

2. Have you ever experienced an intergenerational friendship like the one shared by the novel’s main characters? If so, what did you gain from this experience, and what do you find makes intergenerational friendships meaningful?