2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

We were warned by Nicole Rollins at the end of the last story that she had a big surprise for everyone and wouldn’t be in jail long. Did her escape meet or exceed your expectations? Your thoughts about any aspect of the ordeal?

I thought it was a great opening for the book. Not only does she succeed in escaping, but they put a bunch of children in danger. My only thoughts at the time were wondering how she and her group planned this while she was in solitary.

I thought so, too, Robin. The escape far exceeded my expectations because I got to see how cold and diabolical Nicole really was, as well as ruthless. She was willing to blow up a bus full of children. I knew we were in for a rough ride.

Her escape was what I was expecting. Using the kids was actually kind of smart.
I was wondering the same thing, Robin. It was a very well planned escape.

The escape was chilling and putting all the children at risk was just plain evil. Nicole really was not the person I thought she was. She had everyone fooled and this plan was deadly and served notice that she was not messing around. I was glad she spared the guard.

I felt bad for Isaac, the guard she spared. She didn’t do it out of any empathy but because she needed him to divert everyone to saving the children and not going after her. Nicole also left Isaac broken. I wanted her dead for what she did to those kids and him.

The school bus was hair-raising; later in the book, did she spare anyone as she did the guard here?

No. She only spared him so he could help with her distraction. There was no benevolence here.

The escape is the perfect intro to this story. The poor guard left alive with survivors guilt. Rescuing the kids on the bus. The two missing kids. Nicole back in the driver's seat--not that she was out of the driver's seat all along.

Lots of tension to go around.

It’s now clear she indeed never got out of the driver’s seat.