The Ascent

Which character in The Ascent did you like the most, and why? Who did you like the least?

How would you describe Lee and Theo’s relationship? Did you find Lee’s anxieties or Theo’s frustration more relatable? Is this a dynamic you have seen in new parents before?

Theo claims Lee is suffering from postpartum depression, but Lee disagrees with this assessment. Do you think this label accurately captures Lee’s experience? Why or why not?

At the beginning of the book, Lee is part of a mommy-and-me group for new mothers. Have you belonged to a similar group? What was your experience like?

Cults have always drawn public interest and speculation, from NXIVM to Rajneeshpuram to Heaven’s Gate and Jonestown. What do you think separates a cult from a close-knit community, and is there a bright line to be drawn? How do you think this was reflected in the book?

Many cults—even those that take very dark turns—draw in members by offering an appealing vision of the world: The Peoples Temple advocated for equality and racial integration, NXIVM encouraged community and self-improvement, and doomsday cults like Jacob’s Hill offer the promise of independence and selfsufficiency. Do you find any aspects of a self-sustaining community like Jacob’s Hill attractive? Why or why not?

Much of The Ascent is focused on Lee’s life after she was left by The Fifteen. What do you think life after a cult looks like? In what way does Lee’s past as a member of Jacob’s Hill continue to shape her present?

Lee did not choose to join Jacob’s Hill but was instead born into it. How do you think this affected Lee’s experience, if at all?

What role does the documentary play throughout the book, and how does Lee’s relationship to it change as the story progresses? Do you think our interest in these types of documentaries is helpful, harmless, or harmful? How accurately do you think they reflect the lived experiences of the members of the groups they examine? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Describe Lee’s relationship with Mona at Jacob’s Hill, and her relationship with Mona when she appears in Philadelphia. In what ways is the relationship between Lee and Mona a typical sister relationship? In what ways is it different?

How would you describe Lee’s relationships with her mother and her aunt? How do these relationships shape Lee’s own views on motherhood?

What do you think is the significance of the different section names in the book? How do they connect to the story?

Which scene in the book stuck with you the most?

Discuss the novel’s ending. What did you believe Mona’s motives were when she first appeared, and how did that change over the course of the narrative? What did you believe happened to The Fifteen and were you surprised?

Did the ending change your views about Lee’s beliefs and motivation throughout the story? Why or why not?