Discussion Questions for Promises To Grace
- Deanne seems to be making some strong statements about law enforcement and the judicial system, especially with regard to power and money. Do you think Elizabeth did all she could to get justice for her family's murders at the time of the "investigation"? In other words, was she really powerless to do nothing but plot her revenge for four years? Were there alternatives she could have taken instead of going west to kill the murderers? Discuss.
- How about Aunt Alice, neighbors of the Chamberlains, friends of the Chamberlains? Were they powerless against Calvert and the Alexander brothers, do you think? Or could they have done more to get justice for the family? If so, what could they have done?
- Put yourself in Elizabeth's place. Would you have sought justice and/or avenged the murders? Or would you have simply forgiven the Alexanders and Calvert?
- Assign blame for what happened on "The Day," as Elizabeth calls it. Can you place any blame on Charles, Elizabeth's father, due to his aspirations to replace George Calvert as mayor? Should he have kept himself and/or his wife armed in case an attack occurred? Did he know that there would be retaliation for his running against Calvert for mayor of St. Joseph? What are your thoughts?
- By the end of the novel, Elizabeth again feels all of the emotions that for years the hatred within her had burned away - and kept burning away. Do you think a person can ever truly overcome a tragedy such as she endured? What about Grace? Do you think she can recover? If so, what will need to happen, do you think?
- Let's talk about the deception and lying that are so prevalent in the story. Kitch, Red, Skeeter, and especially Elizabeth engage in varying degrees of deception, if there is such a thing. They also seem to be expert at excusing themselves for their deceptions. Do you think they are justified in this behavior? Why or why not?
- Under what circumstances, if any, do you feel a betrayal or a lie is unforgivable? Do you feel that any of these characters crossed that line?
- Elizabeth seems to have an idealized perception of her father, and a more realistic one of her mother. Do you think these are accurate for a fourteen-year-old girl to have? How about the fact that Elizabeth is now eighteen and she still holds these same ideas about her parents? Or does she?
- How do Elizabeth's weaknesses and vulnerabilities play into the story? How do her strengths? Do you see her as a likeable character?
- Skeeter becomes the first catalyst for change in Elizabeth's healing. He is perhaps her first real friend since Betsy Malone. Why do you think Skeeter so persistently pursues Elizabeth? Is he being moved to do so by God? Is he bored or lonely or...? Does he have selfish motives because she has money? What are your thoughts about Skeeter?
- What role do you see Skeeter playing in the next book in the Welcome Home series?
- How about Grace? What role do you see her playing in the next book? Do you think Grace will be able to grow up and live a "normal" life?
- With all of the psychological problems Grace undoubtedly has, her mutism is the one that Elizabeth focuses most upon. Do people value talking over most other abilities, do you think?
- Obviously, Elizabeth learns a lot from Petra, but does Petra learn anything from Elizabeth? How does coming to the ranch change Petra's life - or does it?
- Some readers believe in differing levels of guilt. What are your thoughts about the Alexander brothers in this regard? Did your belief in Jonas's level of guilt or innocence change throughout the course of the novel? How about Frank's? How about Henry's?
- And we cannot leave George Calvert out of this discussion. What about his level of guilt or innocence?
- Near the end of the novel, Elizabeth says, "I guess names aren't so important out here," and Kitch replies, "Right. It's the person, not the name, that matters most, I think." Do you agree with them? How important are our names? What names do you think Elizabeth, Kitch, and Red will use in future books in the series? Does this matter at all?
- Think about the future. Will Elizabeth and Kitch make a future together, or will Kitch leave the ranch once he is completely healed? And what about Gabe and Petra? Will they all remain at the Welcome Home Ranch? What would you have them do if you were to write the next story?
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