Discussion Questions 

 

1. What aspects of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” do you recognize in this retelling? 

 

2. Jedediah Jones calls his horse a “worn-out nag.” Do his words match the way he cares for his horse?

 

3. Which sisters do you think hatched the scheme? Defend your answers. 

 

4. Jedediah Jones tries to escape his unpleasant memories from the American Civil War. Do you think a person can escape memories? If so, how? 

 

5. Mr. Algona thinks his daughters need to marry men from back East. What are his motives for this? Is he trying to be a loving father, or not? 

 

6. How is Dancing and Doughnuts similar to other mysteries you’ve read? How is it different? 

 

7. Why might the author have removed the magical elements of the fairy tale for this retelling?