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In Chapter 1 Jack and Laurel discuss A&P’s kind and perhaps excessively generous gifts. Why is this fact important in the opening of this book and how does it set the stage for other acts of kindness that will be mentioned later in the story? |
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In Chapter 2 A&P and Sam make phone calls to share the sad news of Jack and Laurel's deaths. Has there ever been an occasion when you had to convey bad news to friends and loved ones? How did you find the right words? |
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Malcolm Cooper could be described as the “black sheep” of the family. What characteristics support this description? What things about Malcolm contradict this description? Does your family have a black sheep? What makes them so? |
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“I can’t” (pg 29) was the answer resolving a significant personal conflict Malcolm faced. What does Malcolm’s decision tell us about his character and how is this trait reflected elsewhere in the story? |
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Shortly after a major secret is revealed in a letter, that character's life seems to unravel and they go to the Woodstock Tower (pg 170). What is the significance of the desire for this type of isolation in a time of personal crisis? Is there a place that you go to reflect and ponder the meaningful events in your life? What might the tower represent? |
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After many years of carrying such a heavy burden, Laurel reveals the secret to Jack on the same day Malcolm took his first steps. Aunt Allyson described it as “I guess she stepped into the unknown just as you did” (pg 224). In what ways are Malcolm and Laurel stepping into the unknown? |
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What is the significance of the mailbox and its design? Read and discuss the insight found in one of Jack's letters on page 247. |
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During Matthew’s delivery of Jack's eulogy (pg 256), he said these words: “The tough decisions bring everlasting joy. They bring forgiveness. His, yours mine. The tough decisions bring life”. How do these concepts apply to the situations depicted in the book? |
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Page 274 contains this passage: “Telling you myself, Malcolm, was a stop on my road to heaven that I could not pass by. Without your forgiveness, mine feels incomplete.” How important is this element of true forgiveness and why? |
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The epilogue contains a final letter. A line reads: “Perhaps after sitting on the tower last night and unfolding a new reality for our son I finally understand how my father felt about me. (He) is a piece of me, just as I was a piece of my own dad.” How does this statement give context to the entire story? |