1. Chris is devastated after his younger brother is killed in an accident. Have you faced a difficult loss? What Bible verses helped you? Share these with the group.
2. What role did the quilt play in Emily and Chris’s relationship? Can you relate the quilt to an object that was pivotal in a relationship you’ve experienced in your life?
3. Emily feels guilty for being jealous of her sisters’ happiness and the events going on in their lives. Have you ever been in a similar situation? If so, how did it turn out? Share your experience with the group.
4. Emily pours herself into Rachel’s wedding plans as a way to deal with her grief after Chris returns to Ohio. She also finds solace in her grandmother’s devotion book. Think of a time when you felt hurt or betrayed. Where did you find your strength? What Bible verses would help with this?
5. Near the end of the novel, Chris finally finds the courage to confront his father about his feelings, and he’s surprised by the outcome of the conversation. What do you think Chris learned about his father during the course of their discussion? What do you think Chris learned about himself? How did this conversation change Chris’s feelings regarding his family and his place in the community?
6. Chris feels lost at the beginning of the book. He is convinced he isn’t worthy enough to join the Amish church through baptism, and he is also afraid of opening his heart to Emily. By the end of the story, he realizes he’s ready to be baptized and pursue a relationship with Emily. What do you think caused him to change his point of view throughout the story?
7. Wilmer (Chris’s father) is cold and distant when Chris first arrives home in Ohio. His demeanor toward Chris changes after Chris finally confronts him. What do you think caused Wilmer to change near the end of the book?
8. Which character can you identify with the most? Which character seemed to carry the most emotional stake in the story? Was it Chris, Emily, Wilmer (Chris’s father), or someone else?
9. What role did John play in Chris’s introduction to the Bird-in-Hand community and also the Fisher family? How did John affect Chris’s feelings about his own self-worth?
10. What did you know about the Amish before reading this book? What did you learn?