Introduction

WINNER: Gold Medal, IPPY Awards 2017, Best Regional Fiction

When a group of traveling people descends on the sleepy town of Shelk, Pennsylvania, Zaccariah Ramsy, owner of the local bar, finds himself drawn into their world after a hungry man turns up on his doorstep. Meanwhile, Stella Vale, Ramsy's former love, believes that her long-lost daughter might be among those who begin to rob townspeople's homes. As tensions between Shelk residents and the newcomers rise, Stella and Ramsy must decide whether they will remain isolated from the world around them?or reach for a life of new possibilities.


A piercing tale of isolation, redemption, and belonging, Each Vagabond by Name is a powerful exploration of loss by a commanding new literary voice.

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Excerpt

CHAPTER 1


1118 Trillium Street

They rang the doorbell once. They’d been watching the house—two stories, red brick—and knew someone was home. They’d seen her drive up and carry in two sacks of groceries half an hour before. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

Stella has never given up hope of finding Lucy. But when she finally gets the blanket, her hope seems to evaporate. Do you think Stella will continue to hope to find Lucy? If so, do you think she bases this hope in realistic expectations?

Again and again, Ramsy remembers Hawk’s words: Worry’ll undo you. He claims that he’s always stayed out of people’s business, and his involvement with JT and the other thieves is new territory for him. How accurate is his own self-assessment? Is Ramsy more compassionate than he gives himself credit for?

When Ramsy grieves JT, he grieves both for JT and for “what he recognized of himself in him.” What did Ramsy see of himself in JT? How are they alike and different?

The disappearances of Lucy and Liza bring Ramsy and Stella together, and Liza’s return is partially responsible for their breakup. What role do Liza and Lucy play in their eventual reconciliation? Discuss the impact of missing and found children on the evolution of Ramsy and Stella’s relationship.

How do the thieves change Ramsy’s life? How do they change Stella’s? And how do they change Shelk?

The thieves break into houses and use violence against the locals. Why does Ramsy feel compassion for them? Why doesn’t he join the local men in trying to make them leave?

Consider the definition and connotations of “vagabond.” In what way are Ramsy and Stella vagabonds? Besides the thieves, could any other characters be considered vagabonds?

Ritual and tradition are a big part of life in Shelk. What traditions and rituals do the locals value most? To what extent is the anger against the thieves related to their disrupting these important rites?

Do you think Ramsy sees Shelk as his home? Why or why not? Does his idea of “home” change throughout the novel?

Ramsy doesn’t put much thought into domesticity, and the meals he cooks for himself are bland and simple. What does food represent to Ramsy? What role does food play in the novel?

Is Ramsy a moral character? What is his moral code? Consider the choices he makes regarding Emilian, JT, Jack Kurtz, and Marcie.

Weblinks

»	Author's web site
»	Bustle's list of 15 Great Appalachian Novels
»	Interview in Newfound Journal
»	Interview in Compose
»	Short essay at RealPants
»	Short essay at Monkeybicycle

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