54 pages • 1 hour read
Holly SmaleCassandra in Reverse
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Cassie is particularly sensitive to the feeling of different fabrics and enjoys collecting vintage clothing. Do textiles function as a symbol or motif throughout Cassandra in Reverse? What do textiles represent in the text, and how do they contribute to the themes of the novel?
Two frequently repeated settings in Cassandra in Reverse are the “box room” in the flat she shares with Derek and Sal, and the meeting room at Fawcett PR, which her boss insists on calling the “Idea Brewery.” How are both spaces characterized, and how do they align, or conflict, with Cassie’s personality?
While it is not explored in detail, Smale refers to the concept of “gaslighting” several times throughout the novel. How does the concept of gaslighting, a form of emotional abuse, relate to the way Cassie experiences the world, specifically Derek’s attempts to take advantage of her?
How would you describe the overall tone of the novel? Which particular passages contribute to this tone, and how does it relate to the novel’s themes?
How does the concept of time travel relate to the novel’s themes regarding neurodiversity? Does time travel function as a symbol? If so, how?
Smale uses syntactical choices throughout the novel to characterize Cassie’s thought process. How does this, and other literary devices, represent the way Cassie thinks about the world?
What is the significance of the originally misogynistic SharkSkin campaign to the narrative? Would you characterize Cassie as a feminist? Why or why not?
The pivotal point at which Cassie realizes she isn’t compatible with Will relates to his lateness. What other character traits make them either compatible or incompatible, and which textual evidence supports this?
Cassie, her mother, and Holly Smale herself all received diagnoses of autism as adults. How does the fact that Cassie’s neurodivergence is not labelled as autism until the end of the text affect the narrative and her characterization, if at all?
