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Readers > Talk it Up! > Discussion guides > Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Summary

Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend at a punk show for 5 minutes when he sees his ex girlfriend who dumped him. Norah agrees by kissing Nick to avoid being seen by someone. Nick and Norah are both trying to avoid the same girl.

Booktalk

Nick sees Tris, who just dumped him, wave and start to walk through the crowd of the punk show towards him with her new boyfriend. She is wearing those cool yellow tights too. She looks like a super hero. He had asked her not to come to his shows. He saw her on stage during their last song and he lost his buzz. Now she’s going to come over and talk to him. She’ll introduce her new boyfriend and ask Nick how he’s doing. She can be so cruel. So Nick turns to the short girl next to him dressed in plaid and asks if she will be his girlfriend for 5 minutes.

Norah looks up at the 6 foot bassist from the last band. Did he just ask her to be his girlfriend for 5 minutes? Does he think she’s a 7 Eleven quick stop for girlfriends? Then Norah sees Tris. She’s wearing those stupid yellow tights that make her look like a neon bumble bee. Why is Tris here, at this club? How does she always end up where Norah and Caroline are on Saturday night? She needs to find Caroline fast and leave. Tris is walking right towards her. Norah answers Nick’s girlfriend question with a kiss. Hey, it was a pretty good one too. Tris steps in front of Nick and Norah and asks how they know each other. It suddenly becomes clear to Norah who Nick is or was. Only Nick doesn’t know who Norah is or how she knows Tris. Nick and Norah begin their nighttime adventure and learn they have more in common than Tris.

183 pages, 10th grade and up

Discussion questions

Warning! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. What is Nick and Norah’s favorite band?
  2. What is your favorite band?
  3. Does music play an important role in your life? Do you have a killer soundtrack that goes with your life?
  4. Are there certain songs that remind you of important events in your life?
  5. Would you have kissed Nick like Norah did?
  6. Would Nick make a good boyfriend?
  7. Would Norah make a good girlfriend?
  8. Nick and Norah are both wounded from past relationships. Do you think they are ready for new ones?
  9. Norah didn’t send in her college acceptance letter because she thought she would be with Tal. Have you ever put your self on hold for someone or something?
  10. Do you think Nick and Norah are similar or very different?
  11. Why does Norah dislike Tris?
  12. Do you think Tris is terrible or is Norah to harsh?
  13. Do you think Caroline is a good friend? Why or why not?
  14. Do you think Norah is a good friend? Why or why not?

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