The Children Book Club Questions
10 discussion questions for The Children by Melissa Albert.
October 18, 2026
Spoiler warning: some questions touch on how the book ends. Best read after you've finished it.
Discussion questions
- How does the secluded Vermont farmhouse setting contribute to the mood and tone of Guinevere and Ennis's childhood?
- What are your thoughts on Edith Sharpe's portrayal as both a mother and an author? How do these roles conflict with each other?
- Discuss the significance of the Ninth City books in Guinevere and Ennis's lives. How do these stories shape their reality?
- Do you think Guinevere's decision to promote a ghostwritten memoir was justified? What does it say about her relationship with her past?
- How does Ennis's art installation, titled "Mother," act as a catalyst for the unfolding events in the book?
- What are some moments in the book that suggest Guinevere's public persona is beginning to crack? How does this impact her journey?
- Was Ennis right to distance himself from his family's legacy, and what does his eventual return to it through his art suggest about his character?
- How does the book's dual timeline structure enhance the unfolding mystery of what happened the night of the fire?
- Can you relate to the way Guinevere and Ennis's childhood memories have mythic weight in adulthood? Have you experienced something similar?
- What are your thoughts on the book's ending? Do you think it provides closure for Guinevere and Ennis, or does it leave more questions unanswered?
These questions were drafted with AI help for book clubs using Lapwing.
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