The Secret Book of Flora Lea

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Were you surprised by the revelation regarding Flora’s identity? How did this twist impact your understanding of the novel?
• How did you feel about Hazel’s contrasting romantic relationships? Did one feel healthier or more positive than the other?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

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

• Is Whisperwood a place you’d like to live in? Why or why not?
• Many of the characters use storytelling as a coping mechanism for managing the difficult world outside. What do you tend to use as a coping mechanism in challenging circumstances?
• Do you sympathize with Imogene’s motivations for kidnapping Flora? Why or why not?
• Does the Whisperwood book remind you of any stories from your childhood? Which novels might have inspired Hazel’s world?
• The novel presents hope as something with both inspiring and damaging effects. In your personal experience, is hope a positive or negative influence? Why?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How does Hazel’s journey across the novel parallel the wider fairy tale tradition?
• Discuss how the novel depicts WWII, as compared to other contemporary historical novels set in this time period such as The Nightingale or Lilac Girls.
• How can the restorative power of storytelling explored in the novel be applied to modern-day struggles?

4. Literary Analysis 

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Compare and contrast Hazel and Peggy’s approach to storytelling. Where do their perspectives and experiences correlate, and where are they different? 
• Flora’s bear, Berry, serves as the catalyst for Flora’s disappearance. What might the teddy bear symbolize in a larger context?
• How do contrasting religious and spiritual influences shape the direction of the story? 
• Is Peggy a static character or a dynamic character? How does her point-of-view narrative influence the story?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Write a story set in Whisperwood, framing it with clues from Hazel’s stories.
• Imagine a sequel set in the artist’s colony on St. Ives. What happens next?
• Imagine you’re a reporter covering Hazel’s book release at the gallery. Write a gossip column describing the event. 

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