Black Woods, Blue Sky

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did Ivey’s descriptions of the Alaskan landscape affect your experience reading the book?

2. What was your reaction to the shape-shifter trope? Did you struggle to suspend disbelief or interpret Arthur’s transformation as metaphorical?

3. Discuss the rotating third-person narration. How did hearing Birdie’s, Emaleen’s, and Warren’s perspectives shape your understanding of the story and its themes?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Have you ever returned to a place from your past? Describe your reason for going and the impact of the experience.

2. Do you have specific memories of fantastical beliefs or experiences from childhood? How did these experiences shape your worldview?

3. Is there something from your past that haunts you? How have you learned to live beyond it?

4. Can you identify with Birdie’s struggle to find independence as a mother or in another relationship? How have you found a balance between interpersonal connections and freedom without isolation?

5. How has the landscape in which you live, whether urban, rural, or something in between, shaped you?

6. Have you ever felt torn between who you are and what the world expects you to be?