Book Clubs & Educators

The Story in Brief. A synopsis to refresh memories before you meet. It stops before the final chapters.

Principal Characters. A who’s who of the cast, from Bellwether plantation to New Haven and Boston.

The History Behind the Fiction. The real history the novel is built on: the law that made a child’s status follow the mother’s, the penalties for teaching an enslaved person to read, the college for Black students that New Haven refused to allow, the Black lawyers who practiced before the Civil War, and more.

Twenty Questions for Discussion. Questions about the characters, their choices, and what those choices cost.

Questions That May Divide the Room. A handful of questions the novel deliberately leaves open, for groups that like a lively debate.

A Final Question. A short exercise to open and close your meeting with. Most groups find the answers shift by the end of the evening.

Spoiler note:
The guide discusses events well into the novel. For the best experience, finish the book before you open the guide.

Download Section:
The guide is free. There’s nothing to sign up for. Download the PDF, print as many copies as you need, and send it to everyone in your group ahead of time. If you’re short on time, the guide suggests picking a few questions rather than working through all of them.