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Magic Hour
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an incandescent story about the resilience of the human spirit, the triumph of hope, and the meaning of home.
In the rugged Pacific Northwest lies the Olympic National Forest--nearly a million acres of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. From deep within this old growth forest, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she offers no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past.
Having retreated to her western Washington hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is determined to free the extraordinary little girl she calls Alice from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation. To reach her, Julia must discover the truth about Alice's past--although doing so requires help from Julia's estranged sister, a local police officer. The shocking facts of Alice's life test the limits of Julia's faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice--and for herself.
These book club questions are from the author's website.
Book club questions for Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
Kristin Hannah writes that “the modern world no longer believed in senseless tragedy.” Why do you think people often need to hold someone accountable when something goes wrong? Is it human nature to play the blame game? Would a guilty verdict have offered the parents of those killed some solace? Do you think it’s ultimately better to seek justice or to simply forgive in a situation like this one?
After seeing Amber Zuniga for three years, should Julia have been able to foresee the events that unfolded? What kind of culpability should a psychiatrist have for the crimes of their patients? Is it really possible to predict human behavior?
Before the tragedy, Julia was considered to be one of the best psychiatrists in the country. Would you trust Julia with your children after everything that happened?
Was Julia’s mom wrong to tell her thirteen year old daughter secrets of her marriage, especially since she only told her one side of the story? Why do you think her mother told her those things?
With all the milestones that Alice reaches under Julia’s care, why is speech the one that everyone is so focused on? Do people value talking over most other abilities?
Kristin includes a lot of research in this novel about feral children. How do you think Alice is like a feral child? How is she different?
Hannah writes “A name is integral to developing a sense of self.” Why? What does this mean?
Why doesn’t Alice think she’s real?
Obviously, Alice learns a lot from Julia. But what does Julia learn from Alice? How does meeting Alice change her life?
Julia connects with Alice in a way that is completely unprofessional. Do you think Julia is wrong to try to keep Alice away from George? Is she choosing what’s best for Alice or for Julia herself? George doesn’t have the skills necessary to deal with Alice, perhaps, but he is her father. How important is that in this case?
The media plays a huge part in this novel. Press coverage ruins Julia’s life and arguably helps to convict George. Do you think the media goes too far these days? Do you believe that cases are in effect tried in the press? How could we better balance the free speech with that of blind justice? Can you think of any recent case that mirrors George’s trial?
How would this story have been different if it had been told from George’s point of view?
Did George give up on Alice too easily or was it right for him to realize he couldn’t take care of her in the way she needed to be?
Do you think Alice will be able to grow up and live a normal life?
Magic Hour Book Club Questions PDF
Click here for a printable PDF of the Magic Hour discussion questions