Jane Goodall define la esperanza como “…lo que nos permite seguir adelante frente a la adversidad. Es lo que deseamos que suceda, pero debemos estar preparados para trabajar duro para que así sea” (página 6). Además, llama a la esperanza “un aspecto de nuestra supervivencia” (página 9), y más adelante “…la determinación obstinada de hacer que funcione” (página 26).

Jane dice que la esperanza no niega el mal, sino que es una respuesta a él (página 35).

1. ¿Estás de acuerdo con la definición de esperanza de Jane y su descripción de la misma? ¿Qué agregarías, quitarías o cambiarías a la forma en que define la esperanza y por qué harías ese cambio?

2. ¿Tus estudiantes tienen esperanza sobre el medio ambiente? ¿Deberían tener esperanza sobre el medio ambiente?

3. En la página xii, Jane dice que la esperanza es contagiosa y que tus acciones inspiran a otros. ¿Es importante transmitir esperanza a tus estudiantes cuando hablas sobre temas ambientales como el cambio climático y, si es así, cómo les transmites esperanza?

4. ¿Tienes alumnos que no tienen esperanza en relación con nuestro medio ambiente? Si es así, ¿cómo los ayudas? ¿Qué les dices?

5. ¿Alguna vez pierdes la esperanza en relación con el medio ambiente? ¿Cómo lo afrontas? ¿Qué haces para mantener la esperanza o recuperarla?

6. En la página 52, Jane dice que solo los humanos son capaces de hacer el mal y solo los humanos son capaces de ser altruistas. ¿Estás de acuerdo con ella? ¿Cómo inspiras a tus alumnos a seguir un camino hacia un mayor altruismo?

7. Jane encuentra esperanza en el intelecto humano, la resiliencia de la naturaleza, el poder de los jóvenes y el espíritu humano indomable. ¿Estás de acuerdo con ella en cuanto a esas cuatro razones para tener esperanza? ¿Por qué sí o por qué no?

8. En la página 152, Jane cuenta la historia de Winston Churchill, quien pronunció un discurso conmovedor durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial en el que describía cómo los británicos luchaban en los mares y océanos y nunca se rendían. Según la historia de Jane, justo después del discurso, Churchill se volvió hacia un amigo y le dijo en voz baja: “… y lucharemos contra ellos con las colillas de botellas de cerveza rotas porque eso es todo lo que tenemos”. ¿Alguna vez te has encontrado en la posición de animar a la gente a luchar por una causa cuando dudas de la posibilidad de éxito? ¿Cómo manejas eso?

9. En la página 57, Jane dice que cree que los seres humanos tienen una comprensión compartida de lo que significa la justicia y que con el tiempo nos hemos vuelto más solidarios y compasivos como especie. ¿Crees eso? ¿Por qué sí o por qué no?

10. En la página 233, Jane dice: “No sirve de nada negar que hay problemas. No es ninguna vergüenza si piensas en el daño que hemos infligido al mundo. Pero si te concentras en hacer las cosas que puedes hacer y hacerlas bien, eso marcará la diferencia”. ¿Estás de acuerdo? ¿Por qué sí o por qué no?

1. What makes the best part of us: people, or the nature around us? What if one or both are taken away?

2. Each member of the Llyndee family has a different perspective towards nature, which plays a large role in the individual choices they make. What order would you put them in, from most in touch w/nature to least?

3. Kate seems to focus on safety because the natural world is fearful to her, but was she always that way? What changed her?

4. If discovery of the relics and the accident hadn’t occurred, do you think Kate would have grown more comfortable on the island? Why or why not?

5. How do Dylan and Beth’s experiences with Ben affect their perspectives about nature and the choices they make?

6. Maegan takes risks in life without much thought, whether in nature or in the "real" world. Why do you think she holds this perspective?

7. What about Beth? Is she taking a huge risk or playing it safe by living in Chicago?

8. Welsh and Ojibwe customs have many similarities in terms of their reverence towards nature, but different perspectives about their gods and humans' role as a part of nature. What other similarities or differences does the story provide between the Ojibwe and Welsh families, and how does your family incorporate nature into your traditions and habits?

9. Beth is frustrated and angry at the pecking order with her siblings, and the secrets that they seem to keep from her - even as an adult. And yet, Maegan and Dylan know that Beth is the only one who can bring the island back into the family’s lives. Why do you think this is, and do you agree?

10. The novel follows Beth’s coming of age as a youngster into a teenager, and again as an adult. How does she evolve over the course of the last two chapters? How do other family members come of age, no matter their age?

11. Who should have rights to the island? Can anyone really own a piece of nature?

12. How does working in a steel mill feel to Dylan, the family member most connected to the natural world? What is the worst place you can imagine living for yourself, and where would you go to heal after the experience?

13. Beth reconnects with the lake as she hikes to the top of Llyndee’s Peak, in spite of all that she has shut away. How and why does she do this?

14. Fourteen years is a long time for Beth and Dylan to be apart, yet their relationship falls back into place even with their conflicting reasons for their estrangement. Have you experienced similar separations with family or friends, for whatever reason, and how did you feel if you were fortunate to reconnect?

15. Do you have a favorite character? Why?

16. Do you think the entire family, with the exception of Naina, will return to the island?

17. Does the island and lake remind you of a place or piece of nature that you treasure? How do you feel when you're there, and what would you do to protect it?

18. Those of us fortunate to live in the Great Lakes region share a love of fresh water, a variety of flora and fauna second only to the Amazon Rainforest, and the beauty of four seasons. What do you value most about the natural world where you live?

19. Do you agree with the research that shows us the healing powers of nature?

1. Coming soon.

1. Coming soon.

1. This book doesn’t seem like historical fiction but rather fictionalized history because all of the characters are historic figures. Do you think this is a fair or reasonable characterization of the book and others like it? Why or why not?

2. On page three of the book Mary says “Lightning has struck me all my life. Just once it was real.” What are some examples of Mary metaphorically feeling lightning strike her at other times in her life?

3. The author, Chevalier, offers a unique way to build characterizations: Elizabeth identifies people according to the body part they “lead with”. For example, Mary Anning leads with her eyes, her mother leads with her working hands, and the Days lead with their chests. Does this help you visualize the characters or their personalities? What body part do you think you “lead with”?

4. Like the Victorian era which began as this story progressed, nineteenth century English society was stratified by class and gender, and women were not considered able or interested in scientific ideas. What events or ideas in the book struck you as shocking, frustrating, or interesting?

5. Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpott are dynamic characters that they change over the course of the book. Their changes mirror changes in the scientific understanding of fossils that occurs at that time in history. What are some examples of changes to Mary and Elizabeth over the course of their friendship? How does the author use dialog between characters to illustrate these changes?

6. We teach students that creativity is part of science. On page 74 Elizabeth describes Lord Henley as “a man of little imagination who found it impossible to see the world through another’s eyes. It made his interest in fossils preposterous. Truly to appreciate what fossils are requires a leap of imagination he was not capable of making.” Do you think she is correct? What do you think the role of creativity was in understanding geologic history and the history of life during the Victorian era?

7. Mary and Elizabeth - and Mary’s mother Molly, consider the difference between ‘hunters’ and ‘collectors’ - and eventually ‘dealers’. How do they describe the difference between a ‘hunter’ and a ‘collector’? Do you think the distinction is valid?

8. Interestingly, Georges Cuvier is considered the founder of comparative anatomy, and he believed in extinction but not evolution. Why was his opinion so important to scientists of the day, and so important to Elizabeth, that she felt it necessary to go all the way to London alone to protect Mary's reputation?

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1. Coming soon.