Good Sister

Fern displays many characteristics of someone on the autism spectrum, though she has never been formally diagnosed. Do you think we need to do more as a society to allow neurodiverse people to feel integrated, for example, like the class Fern runs at the end for kids with sensory issues?

Like Fern, Wally has certain traits that make him different from others. Do you think Wally was neuro atypical? How was he similar or different to Fern? Do you think we, as a society, expect neuro atypical people to be the same?

During a discussion with Wally, Fern talks about the need to have a ‘person’. Her inference is that everyone should have one. Does everyone have a ‘person’? What do you think are the consequences of not having one?

Up until she sees her true colours, Fern adores Rose. She relies on her, seeks her out when she needs advice, and trusts her implicitly. Do you think her inability to see Rose’s true character is to do with the way Fern sees the world? Or is it that learned blindness that we all experience with our families to some extent?

It is widely recognised that many neurodiverse individuals excel in areas including attention to detail, sustained concentration and recognising patterns. So, does Wally have a point?

How did you feel about Wally and Fern getting to keep their baby? Did you have any concerns about their ability to care for Willow?

We see early on that Fern and Rose do not have clear boundaries with each other. Not only is Rose overzealous when it comes to Fern’s life, Fern takes it upon herself to have a baby for Rose (without even telling her about it). If you have a sister, do you have clear boundaries with her? Would you have a baby for your sister if she couldn’t have one?

Sisters are known for being close. How does it compare to a brother / sister relationship? If you have both a brother and sister, how is that relationship different? How is it similar?

Fern and Rose are twins, but very different. How much of that is to do with the fact that Fern is neuro atypical. Imagine for a moment that she wasn’t. How do you think this would have affected their relationship?

We all have a narrative from our childhood that we believe. It can be jarring when, as adults, we find out that things didn’t happen the way we thought they did, or someone wasn’t the way we perceived them to be. Has that ever happened to you? What was something you believed as a child that turned out to be very different from what you thought?

Fern spent most of her life believing that she was responsible for Billy’s death. This made her fearful of herself, and increased her reliance on Rose. If Billy hadn’t died, how do you think Fern’s self-confidence and dependency on Rose might have been different?

Did you guess that Rose was falsifying the letters in her diary? If so, at which point did you guess?

How important was Wally in Fern’s ultimate awakening to Rose’s true character? Imagine Fern and Wally had only had a one-night stand, and not a relationship. Do you think Fern would have remained none-the-wiser to Rose’s manipulative ways and the fact that she was not responsible for Billy’s death?

In the end of the novel, Rose is still plotting to get the baby and have revenge on Fern. How did you feel about this ending? Would you have preferred it to end more neatly or did you like this ominous note left hanging in the air?