Beartooth

Thad seems to be the more responsible of the brothers, while Hazen can often appear to be out of touch with reality. How would you characterize the brothers? Describe their differences and the dynamic between them. Which one of them do you identify with more, and why?

As Thad and Hazen hike down through an aspen grove in the novel’s opening pages, Thad is struck by the thought that, collectively, the trees possess a “sort of consciousness.” Later, Thad reflects on the “twice told” elements in nature, comparing the veins and arteries of the human body to the root system of a tree and the forked shape of lightning. What were some of the descriptions of nature or the environment that stayed with you? How did they frame the natural world in a new way?

The novel, along with the brothers, is set at a remove from modern society; the time period of the story is never clearly established. Why do you think the author made that choice? When did you envision this story taking place? Can you think of any other realistic novels that have no specific time frame?

Sacajawea is described as a sporadic mother to Thad and Hazen, threading in and out of their childhoods. In what ways has she—and her absence—shaped who the brothers become? She later describes the universe as “a single perfectly smooth thing that somehow broke apart” but that may, through infinite collisions and combinations, eventually come back into one big smooth piece. How does this idea relate to the arc of the novel? Can you think of any experiences in your own life that prove or disprove Sacagawea’s philosophy? Are you sympathetic to Sacajawea or do you feel she is simply an irresponsible mother?

When the detective arrives after the Scot is killed, he asks Thad if the brothers are “some kind of survivalists.” What does this term mean to you? Do you think this how the brothers view themselves? Consider your own relationship to wilderness and nature. Are there aspects of the Thad and Hazen’s lifestyle, living off the grid, that appeal to you?

How would you characterize Naomi’s relationship to the Scot? To Sacajawea? How do you imagine her future?

At the end of the novel, Hazen’s whereabouts remain ambiguous. Why do you think Wink chose not to write a more definite ending? Do you think Thad will—or could—ever reunite with him? What do you think the future holds for them, as individuals and as brothers?