Water Finds a Way a novel

When Blake first arrives in Raker Harbor, many of the characters regard her with circumspection. What factors play a role in their initial reactions to her? Why do you think Blake is reluctant to engage with other people beyond what is necessary for her to get by? At what point do you believe Blake begins to change?

The relationship between Blake and Leland gets off to a rocky start. How have life circumstances shaped each of these characters differently, and how does their relationship evolve over the course of the spring and summer?

In some sense, every character in this novel battles loneliness. Discuss how that battle looks different for Blake, Nora, Leland, Quinnie, and Morning Glory.

Blake has lost belief in the concept of justice. What factors contributed to that loss of belief? How did you respond to Blake’s silence during her trial? What factors influenced your response, and how might it differ from that of other readers?

Discuss the ways that health, both mental and physical, functions as a motif throughout the novel. Consider the role of addiction and who it impacts, directly or indirectly.

Why does Blake create the garden at Harlow’s Crossing?

Nora’s Christian faith plays an enormous role in her life, while Blake professes no belief in God. How does Nora’s faith help or hinder her growth as a character? Do you think Blake ever regains her faith? Why or why not?

Readers interpret Blake and Nora’s relationship in different ways. How do these two women help one another? How do you envision their interaction beyond the final pages of the novel?

Quinn is intrigued by the courage of Amazons, yet Blake is quick to deny that bravery played a role in her rescue of Quinn. Discuss some of the acts of courage—large and small—undertaken by different characters in the book. How is each significant?

Children often see the world differently than adults. What truths or “untruths” does Quinn perceive that evade the other characters? How has her relationship with her father shaped who she is?

Blake’s protectiveness of Quinn drives two of the novel’s most dramatic scenes. What motivates this protectiveness? What does it reveal about Blake?

Leland proclaims that not taking revenge on the McDowells is the most difficult thing he has ever done. Do you think the Savard-McDowell feud is over? Why or why not?

Morning Glory enters the novel late, but she makes one of the most devastating decisions of all the characters. How do we see her internal battles—and their potential resolutions—in the last part of the book? Consider how her relationship with Leland affects her actions.

The name Renato means “born again.” Discuss the significance of this name throughout the novel.

How does Raker Harbor’s geographical setting affect each of the characters? Who benefits most—and least—from that setting? Would you wish to live in a place like Raker? Why or why not?

The novel's title comes from a phenomenon mentioned in Blake's grandfather's last letter to her. How do the characters in the book connect to the theme of water and its movement?