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Counting Backwards
Erin Brockovich meets Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, Counting Backwards has the tight pace of a thriller with the personal, emotional themes of a women's fiction novel.
Inspired by the shocking case of women undergoing unwanted medical procedures in 2020 in a Georgia detention facility and the true story of Carrie Buck, whose 1927 Supreme Court case allowed for forced sterilization, Counting Backwards tackles heavy issues from an unusual angle.
A routine immigration case, a shocking legacy. Jessa Gidney's quest for justice draws her into the heart of an abhorrent conspiracy. As she uncovers her personal ties to a heartbreaking past, her life takes a dramatic turn, in this emotionally riveting novel inspired by true events.
New York, 2022. Jessa Gidney is trying to have it all--a high-powered legal career, a meaningful marriage, and hopefully, one day, a child. But when her professional ambitions come up short and Jessa finds herself at a turning point, she leans into her family's history of activism by taking on pro bono work at a nearby ICE detention center. There she meets Isobel Pérez--a young mother fighting to stay with her daughter--but as she gets to know Isobel, an unsettling revelation about Isobel's health leads Jessa to uncover a horrifying pattern of medical malpractice within the detention facility. One that shockingly has ties to her own family.
Virginia, 1927. Carrie Buck is an ordinary young woman in the center of an extraordinary legal battle at the forefront of the American eugenics conversation. From a poor family, she was only six years old when she first became a ward of the state. Uneducated and without any support, she spends her youth dreaming about a different future--one separate from her exploitative foster family--unknowing of the ripples her small, country life will have on an entire nation.
As Jessa works to assemble a case against the prison and the crimes she believes are being committed there, she discovers the landmark Supreme Court case involving Carrie Buck. Her connection to the case, however, is deeper and much more personal than she ever knew--sending her down new paths that will leave her forever changed and determined to fight for these women, no matter the cost.
Alternating between the past and present and deftly tackling timely-yet-timeless issues such as reproductive rights, incarceration, and society's expectations of women and mothers, Counting Backwards is a compelling reminder that progress is rarely a straight line and always hard-won. A moving story of two remarkable women that you'll remember for years to come.
These book club questions are from the publisher, HarperCollins Publishing.
Book club questions for Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
How does the topic of reproductive injustice intersect with the issues of immigration and eugenics?
How does the author use the character of Jessa to explore the idea of family in different forms?
After finishing the book, what key themes, takeaways, or emotions stayed with you? Why?
How does the author use the cover design to elicit a sense of intrigue? Did this contribute to your reading experience?
Before reading this novel, what did you know about America’s pre-war eugenics practices? After reading it, has your perception of our history changed?
How does the book portray the issues of immigration, fertility, and motherhood? Did it make you reconsider your views on these topics? How does this resonate with current events?
How does the author handle the theme of reproductive injustice? In what ways does this theme connect to the experiences of both Jessa and Carrie?
Jessa’s story involves a fight against medical malpractice within a detention facility. How does this storyline make you reflect on the current state of healthcare and justice for immigrants?
Carrie’s story is based on a real-life person and a landmark Supreme Court case. Does knowing this fact influence your perception of her character and her struggles?
How does the novel challenge societal expectations of women, particularly in relation to motherhood and career?
In what ways does the revelation about Jessa’s family history impact your understanding of her character and her motivations?
How does the novel explore the concept of self-determination, especially in the context of the two women’s stories?
The novel is described as a compelling exploration of empowerment. What are some ways the characters in the book embody this theme?
Does the author’s use of dual-timeline storytelling impact your understanding of the issues presented in the book? How does this connection affect your perception of their individual stories?
The book explores the theme of women charting their own paths professionally and personally. Discuss the importance of women helping women in the book. Can you provide specific examples of this theme in action?
How does the book challenge societal expectations of women, particularly in the context of motherhood and fertility?
Discuss the relevance of the Supreme Court case allowing forced sterilization in 1927 to the events in the book. How does this historical event impact the present-day narrative?
How does the author explore the theme of self-discovery and change in the characters’ lives? How do these transformations affect their decisions and actions?
Counting Backwards Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the Counting Backwards discussion questions