POTENTIAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR POSTER GIRLS
Book Club
1) Everyone is an outsider somewhere. Maggie and Kora felt like insiders and outsiders depending on the location (work, church, the movies, Grace’s home). Who or what are the antagonists in this story? How does the opinion of an antagonist (Grace, Owens, Lucy, or society) affect our own self-perceptions?
2) Every book has an outside cover that alludes to the inside pages, but sometimes the contents of those pages surprise us anyway. How do we judge books by covers, both literally and figuratively?
3) If you had an opportunity to meet with one character over a cup of coffee, which one would you choose? Which character did you learn the most from, either about yourself or about that time period in America?
4) Harry and Billie have known each other a long time and often display their stubborn sides. How does the unique circumstance of wartime shape or transform their opinions?
5) What did Kora and Maggie learn from each other? Why is listening so important to Kora? How does taking the time to listen to the viewpoints/concerns of others impact our understanding?
6) Who decides who is a “poster girl” or a good example? How do advertisements like posters and other media influence our self-image? What does the title of this book mean to you?
7) Maggie is desperate to protect her daughters from German POWs, from hurtful playmates, and from growing up too fast. What types of things do we try to protect our kids from now? At the end, how does she set an example for them instead?
8) How did Charlie’s decisions alter his family’s trajectory? In the end, would Maggie change those decisions if she could, or was her growth worth the suffering?
9) Why do you think Nell laughs after the memorial service for Nell’s husband Sam? What does the idea of “small victories” mean to you?
10) How would you imagine Kora, Maggie, and their families reacting to the events surrounding red-lining, urban renewal, and civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s? What about women’s equality and integration efforts in the 1970s?
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