READERS GUIDE

Reader’s Guide
The Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao
Discussion Questions:


1. How do you think each member of the Fraud Squad trio embodies the concept of “fraud” in their own way?

2. A central theme of the book is the double standards placed on men and women when it comes to career and relationships. How do you think this gender gap is similar or different at the various socio-economic levels explored in the story? And how might those double standards play out similarly or differently in your culture?

3. Almost every character in the book exhibits some form of morally grey behavior. Do you think those behaviors by Samantha, Anya, Timothy, Lucia, and Samantha’s mother are a result of their personalities or a response to their environments?

4. What do you make of Samantha’s decision to not get back together with Timothy at the end of the book?

5. Taking that one step further, how do you think Samantha and Timothy’s relationship might develop after the book’s ending?

6. Do you think it is possible for two people from vastly different socio-economic backgrounds to be equals in a relationship—be it a romantic relationship or friendship?

7. The Fraud Squad is set in Singapore (Southeast Asia). How do you think Samantha’s pursuit of upward mobility might have unfolded similarly or differently if the story took place in your country? Would it have been easier or more difficult for her to infiltrate high-society?

8. Do you think Tim’s frustration with his parents’ expectations of him are justified, or does he have a certain obligation to go along with the less appealing aspects of his status since he gets to reap the privileges?

9. Did you agree with Raina’s take that Samantha has changed for the worse? If so, at what point do you think Samantha’s shift in perspective and priorities crystallized?

10. Samantha, Anya, Timothy and even Lucia all have complicated relationships with their parents. Did any parent-child relationship stand out to you, or which you related to more strongly?

11. There is a sparsity of Asian representation in Western media. For Asian readers, were there certain themes, characters, and/or scenes that you particularly related to? For non-Asian readers, what did you learn about Southeast Asian society and culture?

12. If you were Samantha, which society event in the story would you be most excited to experience? A few options are: the dinner with Tim’s friends, the Christian Dada launch event, the Kingstons’ dinner party, the Elle photo shoot, Daisy’s engagement party, Anya’s birthday party, the S Gala.