One Summer in Savannah

A compelling debut that glows with bittersweet heart and touching emotion, deeply interrogating questions of family, redemption, and unconditional love in the sweltering summer heat of Savannah, as two people discover what it means to truly forgive.

It's been eight years since Sara Lancaster left her home in Savannah, Georgia. Eight years since her daughter, Alana, came into this world, following a terrifying sexual assault that left deep emotional wounds Sara would do anything to forget. But when Sara's father falls ill, she's forced to return home and face the ghosts of her past.

While caring for her father and running his bookstore, Sara is desperate to protect her curious, outgoing, genius daughter from the Wylers, the family of the man who assaulted her. Sara thinks she can succeed―her attacker is in prison, his identical twin brother, Jacob, left town years ago, and their mother are all unaware Alana exists. But she soon learns that Jacob has also just returned to Savannah to piece together the fragments of his once-great family. And when their two worlds collide―with the type of force Sara explores in her poetry and Jacob in his astrophysics―they are drawn together in unexpected ways.

These book club questions are from Together We Read.

Book club questions for One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Poetry plays an important role throughout the book. Why do you think Sara’s father only speaks in poetry? Do you think poetry has the ability to communicate more than simple words can?

Throughout the book, Jacob struggles to forgive his brother. Some say family should always be forgiven, no matter the transgression. Do you believe there are some things that cannot or should not be forgiven?

Do you believe you can still truly love someone even if you can’t forgive them for their past actions?

Do you think Daniel deserved to know of Alana’s existence? Did Sara have an obligation to tell him he had a daughter?

In the United States, no federal law explicitly restricts the parental rights of men who father a child through rape, meaning, depending on the individual state’s law, the man or his family could petition for visitation or even custody of the child. Do you think this is fair or just?

Why do you think Birdie cannot or will not accept what Daniel did, even after he explicitly admits to her that he raped Sara?

Do you agree with Jacob’s decision to reveal Sara’s secret to Daniel despite his having promised her he wouldn’t?

The love of a mother for her child is often described as an impossible love. In what ways does this play out for Sara? For Birdie?

Homemade Pizza Fridays are an important tradition for Sara’s family. What was your favorite family tradition as a child? Did that tradition carry through to the present?

In a conversation between Jacob and Daniel, Jacob asks if Daniel thinks love is worth walking away from family for if they’re unaccepting of the relationship. Do you think it is?

On one Pizza Friday, Sylvia poses a question: “Would you rather be able to reverse one decision you make every day or be able to stop time for ten seconds every day?” What would your answer be?

One Summer in Savannah Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the One Summer in Savannah discussion questions