The Last Carolina Girl

What role does nature play in Leah’s life? How does it set her apart from the other characters in the story?

Describe Leah and Jesse’s friendship. How are the characters similar? What sets them apart? How does their relationship flourish over the years?

Early on, we learn Leah’s daddy wanted “more” for his daughter. What do you think that means? How does this idea affect Leah? Does this idea of “more” change over the course of the novel?

At the end of chapter four, Leah says of Maeve, “But part of her surviving was finding family. She had chosen me, but right then I had nothing for her. And in that regard, the two of us became kindred spirits, two strays without a place to call home.” How are Leah and Maeve similar throughout the story?

Imagine you are Leah and you arrive at the Griffin house- hold. What questions would you have? What would be your first instinct: trying to fit in with the family or trying to get back to the Barnas?

How would you describe Leah’s relationship with the Griffin children? How do you believe they view her?

What do you make of Mrs. Griffin? Where do you think her deep resentment for Leah comes from? How does it connect to the expectation of women in society at that time?

Why do you think Mrs. Griffin uses Leah as a helpmate instead of letting Leah continue her education? How does Mrs. Griffin try to present herself and her family to others?

Why do you think Mrs. Griffin ultimately decides to involve Dr. Foster in Leah’s life? What was her excuse?

Near the end, Leah says, “I guess that’s the thing about coming home; it’s not the home that’s changed, it’s the person coming back who has.” What do you think Leah’s return home was like? Have you ever experienced a similar sentiment?

What parallels can you draw between Dr. Foster and the eugenics board, and body autonomy today?

Leah is a poor orphan who prefers the wild to societal norms. How does that set her up for being a candidate for forced sterilization? How does Mrs. Griffin’s views of society justify her actions?

What does Leah ultimately learn about home and family over the course of the novel?

What do you think the conversation between Leah and Jesse looked like around the traumas she faced in the Griffin household? How would you approach that conversation?