The Grace Year

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did the ending of the book seem inspiring and hopeful to you, or sad and discouraging? Do you think the ending’s tone was appropriate for its subject matter and themes?
• The Grace Year is often compared to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. In what ways are these two novels similar? What are some key differences? Does it remind you of anything else you’ve read?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• The Grace Year is a dystopian novel. What other dystopian novels, games, or films have you encountered? What do you like and dislike about stories in this genre? 
• In your experience, do people turn on one another the way they do in The Grace Year? Under what circumstances do you think this is more likely or less likely? Do you agree with the novel’s portrayal of this phenomenon among women/girls as opposed to men/boys? 
• The various women in the story have different reactions to their society’s oppressive expectations. Which woman’s reaction did you find most relatable, personally? Why?
• The novel makes it clear how patriarchal systems oppress women. Do you think that patriarchal systems can also prevent men from experiencing life fully and authentically? Does the book show this happening?
• In Tierney’s society, the genders have very clear rules they are expected to live by. Do you find clear expectations like this comforting, confining, or both? How does considering this question give you more insight into the various characters?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• What does the novel suggest about the way charismatic leaders like Kiersten come to power? Do historical and/or current events bear this perspective out?
• What is ironic about calling it a “grace” year? In what other ways does Tierney’s society use language to disguise the true nature of its beliefs and traditions? Does our own society manipulate language in similar ways?
• Why does Tierney refuse to tell Michael about what happened during the grace year? Do you agree or disagree with the tradition of keeping silent? Are there historical or current events in the real world that support your perspective?

4. Literary Analysis 

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• An “allegory” is a story where many of the people, events, and objects symbolically represent various aspects of a real-life situation. What evidence from the text supports the idea that The Grace Year is meant to be read as an allegory?
• How do the various key characters interpret the idea of women’s “magic”? How do their differing interpretations help to characterize them?
• How were Ryker’s beliefs about women formed? What events cause these beliefs to change? Do the changes in his beliefs redeem him as a character in your eyes? Why or why not?
• The novel opens with a dream that Tierney has. What does she dream about? How does this dream help build the novel’s world and establish its themes? By the time you finished the novel, what additional understanding did you have about this dream?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• How do you feel about Tierney’s story arc—particularly falling in love with a man and becoming a mother? What are some other ways her story might have gone? 
• If you could choose a contemporary song to be “Tierney’s theme” in a film version of the story, which song would you choose? Why would your choice be appropriate?
• What do you think will happen to Grace? If you were writing a sequel to this book, what would her story arc be?

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