The Frozen River

None of Lawhon’s central characters is Indigenous, yet Indigenous communities suffer the effects of colonization and violent oppression on the novel’s periphery. Conduct your own research on Wabanaki history, beliefs, and customs, and analyze how these findings align with the values Lawhon’s protagonist holds in The Frozen River.

In the Author’s Note, Lawhon admits to tweaking the historical narrative significantly for the purposes of her story; several central plot points, such as Burgess’s murder, are entirely fabricated. Discuss historical license and the ethics of writing historical fiction? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

What purpose does the rhetorical device of Martha’s journal entries serve in the narrative? How is the tone and voice of the journal entries distinct from the tone and voice of the rest of Lawhon’s prose?