Hollow Bones Book Club Questions
10 discussion questions for Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult.
October 18, 2026
Spoiler warning: some questions touch on how the book ends. Best read after you've finished it.
Discussion questions
- How does Molly's childhood experience of losing her mother influence her career choice in emergency preparedness?
- In what ways does Jesse's profession as a police polygraph expert affect his relationship with Molly?
- What are the key moments in Molly and Jesse's relationship that show their love as a solace amidst chaos?
- How does the novel's structure, moving between past and present, enhance the story's exploration of personal narratives?
- Discuss the significance of the title "Hollow Bones" in relation to the themes of the book.
- Was Molly right to question her marriage with Jesse after the unexpected events? Why or why not?
- How do Molly's feelings towards her stepmother reflect the complex ties between mothers and daughters in the story?
- What role do lies and self-deception play in the characters' lives and decisions?
- How does the author use the backdrop of September 11, 2001, to deepen the emotional impact of the story?
- Reflecting on your own life, how do you deal with the fear of unexpected disasters, similar to Molly's dread?
These questions were drafted with AI help for book clubs using Lapwing.
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