Questions for Discussion
- Throughout this book, Faith struggles with forgiving her deceased husband for his cruelty. It is not until she learns about his tragic childhood that she is able to let go of the hurt. Have you ever found yourself in the situation of wanting to forgive someone who is deceased? Did that decision give you peace even though you could not speak directly to the person?
- Do you believe it is easier for the Amish to forgive others, or do you imagine that they sometimes harbor ill will toward others?
- Adrian suffered the tragic loss of his wife and then his son. His life became mired in grief. Do you know someone unable to move past their grief? What can we offer them in the way of comfort?
- How do we reconcile the loss of those we love by tragic circumstances with our idea of a just and loving God?
- The Amish keep alive many skills lost to modern people such as Faith’s skill at spinning. Whom do you know that is keeping alive a dying art?
- Faith’s conflict with Kyle’s social worker revolves around the lack of modern conveniences in her home. The Amish do adopt from outside of their faith. Is it unfair to expect a child reared in a modern home to be raised in such a different environment?
- The Amish believe that all that happens is God’s will.
- When faced with an uncertain situation, how do we know if we are following God’s will?
- Would you want to raise an animal like an alpaca? Why or why not?
- What’s the strangest animal you’ve seen kept as a pet?
- What was your favorite scene in the story and why?
- What did you learn about the Amish in reading this story that you were not aware of before?
- Adrian and Faith each got a second chance at love. Do you believe it’s possible to fall in love a second time?
- Why or why not?
- Put yourself in Kyle’s shoes. How would you feel if you were torn away from modern conveniences and sent to live in an Amish house? How would you cope?
- What modern convenience would be the hardest to give up? Explain.