Introduction

In small town West Virginia, 1954, one newcomer's special gift with food produces both gratitude and censure. Will she and her daughter find a home there?

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Excerpt

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Discussion Questions

1. When Perla shared Sadie’s parentage with Casewell, he judged her. In what ways do you judge other people? Have you ever kept information to yourself because you didn’t want to be judged?

2. John, Emily, and Casewell each deal with John’s cancer diagnosis differently. How have you handled difficult information in your life?

3. John assumes people are praying for him but doubts that it will have any effect. What effect do you think prayer has in people’s lives?

4. Perla says that things always work out—not necessarily the way we expect—but they work out. Do you agree with that statement? Why or why not?

5. People tried to explain Perla’s gift away by calling it witchcraft. How do we try to explain away the miraculous? Have you ever witnessed something you couldn’t explain?

6. Perla talks about people’s tendency to place labels on one another. How have you labeled others? How have you been labeled?

7. The community came together to help one another during the drought. How have you seen people come together in times of need?

8. Casewell is called upon to preach a sermon at church. If you had to preach a sermon, what topic would you choose? Why?

9. Casewell thinks he needs a lesson in wooing Perla. In your opinion, what’s the best way to show someone you care about them?

10. Perla feels unworthy of love—have you ever felt unworthy? What do you think makes people worth loving?

11. Although Emily has been kind to Perla, she has qualms when it comes to her son marrying a “scarlet woman.” Have you ever caught yourself having double standards?

12. Ultimately, just about everyone in the novel needed to be forgiven. Who do you need to ask for forgiveness? Who do you need to forgive? What stands in your way?

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