The Ring

1. How did Paige and Jessivel’s reactions to their father’s death compare?

2. Was Paige’s mother right in wanting Paige to ignore her curiosity about Jessivel? Right in keeping secrets about Paige’s father’s infidelity and shady past?

3. In the first half of the book, what is making Jessivel so angry? What is she afraid of?

4. Is Jessivel a good mother?

5. Why does Jessivel resist help and advice from others in the beginning?

6. How would you react if you learned you had half-siblings out there?

7. What role did Natalie play in the relationship between Paige and Jessivel?

8. What are Paige’s flaws?

9. Jessivel resents people with money in the beginning. What changes her mind about this?

10. What do you think of Kayla’s definition of what is a “normal” family – two parents, a nice house, brothers and sisters, go on vacations, and have a dog?

11. Jessivel thinks she became an adult when she stopped blaming others for her troubles. When do you think people transition from childhood to adulthood?

12. Why didn’t Paige’s marriage to Leland work the first time but did the second time around?

13. How did Paige change throughout the story? And Jessivel?

14. Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not?

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Nineteen Hundred Days

1. When you were twelve years old, what would you have done differently from Ben when his parents didn’t come home?

2. What were the lessons learned by Ben along the way?

3. How much blame did you put on Ben’s mother for not knowing what her children were going through?

4. How typical of a household was Ben’s when he was living at home with his parents?

5. What was your opinion of Melvin?

6. How difficult of a decision do you think it was for Ben to go or not to go with Melvin?

7. Was Ben more brave, ignorant, or foolish in his choices while unsupervised by an adult?

8. Was Ben more mature than your typical twelve-year-old? Less mature?

9. What was Ben’s greatest strength?

10. How important was Ben’s relationship with his friend Will?

11. Ben ended up forgiving his mother for her indiscretions. Would you have?

12. Would you have gone to the authorities like Ben did in the end?

13. Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not?

 

They Called Me Margaret

1. What were Margaret’s biggest flaws? Her assets?

2. Was Margaret’s husband Carl a good guy, a bad guy, or somewhere in between?

3. Before Margaret’s medical diagnosis, what did you think was wrong with her?

4. Was Carl responsible for any of Margaret’s troubles?

5. What was your impression of Portia?

6. Who was Margaret’s biggest advocate?

7. Would you have thrown in the towel at any point during Margaret’s journey?

8. Did you find the story believable?

9. Did the story entice you to consider becoming a writer?

10. Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not?

 

Living with Markus

1. Is it fair to ask someone to give up their own goals in life to care for an irresponsible family member?

2. At what point could Marc have stopped bailing out his father and still not feel guilty about it? His sister?

3. Was Gabby being unreasonable about why she broke it off with Marc?

4. Were you disappointed that Marc and Jessica didn't get together romantically in the end?

5. How wrong was Marc to assume his father's ID when he took over maintaining the house?

6. What was your opinion of Nick?

7. Would you have gone along with Nick and Zenzi's proposal so he could get his green card?

8. How many of you thought Marc would keep on going when he drove to Green Bay to figure things out?

9. How did Marc change throughout the story?

10. How realistic was the story line?

11. Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not?

 

Regarding Anna

1. If you had the same goal as Grace, would you have gone about it differently?

2. What did you think of Elmer? Was he all bad?

3. What kind of person was Minnie? What made her the way she was?

4. What is your opinion of Adam Lindroth (Grace’s father)?

5. What is your opinion of Anna (Grace’s mother)?

6. Had you figured out Grace’s parentage before the ending?

7. Should Essie have told the authorities or Grace about what happened between Anna and Rosa as soon as she found out?

8. How did Grace change from the beginning of the story to the end?

9. How realistic/believable was the story line?

10. Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not?

 

Red Clover

1. Why did Lee struggle so much during his childhood when he had the same opportunities that his two brothers had?

2. What was Lee’s major goal in the story? Did he reach it?

3. What is your opinion of Lee’s mother Abigale? His father Henry?

4. Should Shaneta have told Lee about Uncle Nelson?

5. Did you see the relationship between Shaneta and Dr. Rad coming? How about Bennett and Francine?

6. How did you feel about the ending? Were you disappointed Lee and CJ didn’t get together romantically?

7. How did Lee change from the beginning of the story to the end?

8. How realistic/believable was the story line?

9. Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not?

 

Daughters

1. What was Marie’s major goal in the story? Did she reach it?

2. How did Marie change from the beginning of the story to the end?

3. What is your opinion of Jonathan? Was he a good person? Bad person? Somewhere in between?

4. What did you think about Marie and Jonathan’s trip down South? Did anything surprise you?

5. How have race relations changed since the early 1950s when this story took place?

6. What did you think of Rachael? Did Marie overstep boundaries with her?

7. Did you ever foresee Marie and Barry getting together? At what point?

8. How realistic/believable was the story line?

9. Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not?

 

The Coach House

1. What was Marie’s major goal in the story? Did she reach it?

2. Could you relate to Marie? What would you have done differently?

3. What did you think about Richard? Was he a good person? Bad person? Somewhere in between?

4. What was Richard’s major goal in the story? Did he reach it?

5. How did Marie change from the beginning of the story to the end?

6. How have race relations changed since the mid 1940s when this story took place?

7. Was there a specific theme throughout the novel? Does the book portray a message?

8. How realistic/believable was the story line?

9. Did you enjoy the book? Why or why not?