1. Early in the novel, Lyddie receives a letter in which her nearly illiterate mother writes, "But we can stil hop" [sic]. This misspelled phrase becomes a refrain throughout the novel. How does Lyddie manage to keep hoping?

What does she hope for and how do her hopes sustain her?

2. In Chapter One, Lyddie is confronted by a bear. As the book unfolds, Lyddie thinks about that bear again and again. For example, in Chapter 22, Lyddie decides that the bear has "stolen her home, her family, her work, her good name." What does the bear come to represent for Lyddie?

3. According to Amelia, Lyddie and Betsy should not waste their time reading novels. What effect does reading have on Lyddie? What benefits does it provide?

4. Why does Lyddie feel so close to her brother, Charlie? Does he feel the same way? What role does he...