When the Day Comes

When the Day Comes is set in two very different eras, Colonial America in 1774 and Gilded Age New York and England in 1914. If you had to pick one of these eras to live in, which would it be and why?

If you were given the gift of living in two time periods, no matter time or place, which two would you choose? Would you choose historical eras or the future?

Was there anything that surprised you about the history of Colonial America or the Gilded Age?

Libby and her mother are the first female public printers in Virginia. Many women worked and owned business in the Colonial Era, such as printers, dressmakers, wigmakers, tavern keepers, apothecaries, blacksmiths, and midwives. If you lived in Colonial America, which job would you have tried?

Libby’s mother tells her that time-crossing is a gift, but Libby sees it as a burden. What do you think?

One of the struggles Libby endures is whether or not she wants to have children, because she’s not sure if she wants to pass her time-crossing gift to the next generation. What would you choose?

In 1774, Libby rubs shoulders with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. If you could meet anyone in American history, who would you want to meet and why?

Though Libby isn’t allowed to change history, if you could change one historical event, which would it be and why?

Libby struggles with whether or not she should look for information about Henry’s fate. If you were given an option to see the future, would you take it? Would you want to know the fate of your loved ones? Or, yourself?

In 1914, Libby’s mother is attempting to marry her off to an English Marquess. This was a common practice among the newly rich in Gilded Age America to gain prestige and entrance into “old money” society. Have you ever been a newcomer into a well-established group? Were you easily accepted or did you have to fight your way in?

Libby’s life in 1914 was inspired by Consuelo Vanderbilt, the Duchess of Marlborough. Her mother forced her to marry the duke, feigning illness until she agreed, and then keeping her under lock and key for weeks before the wedding. Consuelo wept as she walked down the aisle—yet, her courtship and wedding were highly publicized and followed by the press, who painted it as a fairytale. Why do you think the public is so enamored by royal weddings and the wealthy elite?

When Libby’s fate is decided for her, she is angry at God and doesn’t understand why He would allow it to happen. At the end, Libby realizes God is sovereign and He had a perfect plan. If she would have tried to manipulate the plan, things wouldn’t have worked out the way it did. When have you seen God’s sovereignty in action? Do you have a time in your life that things looked bleak, yet God worked them out for good?