For Book Groups

• In Chapter Six, Lucy blames her mother for what happened in the market. Her mother blames her.
  Who is right?

• Lucy feels free to “just be herself” when she is in the bush.
  Is there a place that makes you feel that way?

• What are some of the ways in which living in Ethiopia is different from living in your country?
  What are some of the similarities?​

• In Chapter Nine, the curator of the National Museum says to Lucy, “Nationality and religion are just politics. We are all one species.” What do you think he means by that?
  Do you agree?

• In the beginning of the novel, Lucy believes her mother cares more about her career than she does about her daughter. Do you think that’s true?
  What about Lucy’s father and his career?

• Compare Teddy’s life in Guge to his life at school in Addis Ababa.
  Can you imagine what it would be like to be in his shoes?​

• Compare the way race is portrayed in the book to the way you experience race in your life.

• Did you expect Abba and the rest of the villagers to believe Markos or Lucy?
  Why?

• In Chapter Five, Tana describes what it’s like being a girl in Ethiopia: “Lucy, if you think it is bad to be a girl here, just imagine what it is like to be a woman. Men are in charge of everything….When I grow up, they will all expect me to behave a certain way just because that is how it has always been. I hate it.”
  How does that compare to how girls are treated in your country?

• ​Why do you think the lions surrounded Lucy?