The Teacher

McFadden narrates her novel through three main characters. Discuss who these characters are, the ways their points of view differ on the themes of the novel, and why McFadden chose to narrate her story through their eyes.

Eve dislikes Addie before meeting her. Why? How does this instant dislike color Eve’s opinion of Addie for the majority of the novel? How does Eve’s encounter with Mr. Tuttle support Eve’s feelings toward Addie? Explain when and why Eve’s attitude toward Addie changes.

Discuss Addie’s relationship with Hudson Jankowski. Why were they friends? What changed? Why? What role does Hudson play in the climax of the novel? How does this impact his relationship with Addie?

Explore Eve’s obsession with shoes. What causes this obsession to develop? How does it stem from her relationship with Nate? How does it affect her relationship with Nate? Does this obsession stem from emotional trauma? Explain.

Discuss Addie’s relationship with Kenzie Montgomery. Why is it adversarial? When does Kenzie’s bullying of Addie begin? Why does Kenzie turn to Addie when news of Eve’s disappearance is revealed?

What is significant about Nate’s love of poetry? Why do you suppose Poe is Nate’s favorite poet? How does Eve use Nate’s love of the poem “The Raven” to taunt him? Why?

How does Eve’s relationship with Jay compare to Nate’s relationship with Addie? How does the revelation that Jay is Hudson Jankowski change the reader’s perception of Eve’s extramarital affair? Does it change the way the reader views Eve?

Eve reveals that she and Nate began their relationship when she was 15 and a student in his high school English class. How does this detail change the dynamics of Nate and Eve’s relationship? How does this revelation make Eve more sympathetic? Does this fact make Eve culpable in Nate’s behavior with Addie, Kenzie, and other girls at Caseham High School?