A True Home

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. A True Home has been praised for its gentle, classic feel. In what ways did it remind you of other classic animal stories you may have read, like Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows? What makes this story feel both timeless and fresh?

2. The Heartwood Hotel is more than just a setting; it feels like a character. How did the detailed descriptions of the hotel, from its grand ballroom to its cozy staff rooms, shape your reading experience and your feelings about the story?

3. What did you think of the story’s balance between cozy comfort and looming danger? How did the constant, underlying threat of the wolves affect the otherwise warm and safe atmosphere of the hotel for you as a reader?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Mona’s journey is a search for what the book calls a “true home.” Beyond just a physical place, what qualities or feelings do you associate with the idea of home and belonging?

2. Tilly is quick to judge Mona based on her size and species. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to overcome someone’s initial prejudgment of you, or where you had to revise your own first impression of someone else?

3. The hotel’s motto is to live by “Protect and Respect,” not by “Tooth and Claw.” How does this principle challenge the characters to act against their instincts? In what ways do you see this idea playing out in your own communities?

4. Mona eventually decides she is done with “running or hiding.” What do you think gives her the strength to make this change? What helps people find the courage to confront challenges instead of avoiding them?

5. Arriving at the hotel, Mona is an outsider navigating a new world with its own set of rules and personalities. Which parts of her experience trying to find her place in the Heartwood community felt most relatable to you?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The hotel’s “Six-Legged Rule” is presented as a misguided safety measure that functions as a form of exclusion. How does the story use this rule to comment on the ways societies can create and justify discriminatory policies, even when they seem to have practical origins?

2. As a modern moral fable, what lessons does A True Home offer about building a compassionate community? Which of its messages about empathy, courage, and inclusion do you find most relevant today?

3. Why do you think stories with anthropomorphic animals are such an enduring and effective way to explore complex human social dynamics like prejudice, fear, and cooperation? Are there any drawbacks to employing anthropomorphic animals?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Mona undergoes a significant transformation from a frightened orphan to a brave community leader. What specific moments or decisions do you see as the most critical turning points in her character arc?

2. What is the symbolic importance of the recurring heart carving? How does its appearance on Mona’s suitcase, the hotel entrance, and within guest rooms weave together the themes of destiny, family legacy, and belonging?

3. Tilly’s character arc is central to the book’s message about empathy. How does the eventual revelation of her traumatic past reframe her initial hostility and deepen the story’s exploration of how fear can manifest as prejudice?

4. How does the author use the motif of storms? Consider both the literal storm that brings Mona to the hotel and the metaphorical storms, like the bear’s arrival and the wolf threat, that test the community.

5. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the hotel’s owner, Mr. Heartwood, as a leader? How do his personal history and his well-intentioned but flawed rules shape the culture of the Heartwood Hotel?

6. For those who have read Kallie George’s other works, how does the world-building and gentle tone in A True Home compare? Does it share similar themes or character types?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Mr. Heartwood has put you in charge of designing the new wing of the hotel for insect guests, based on Ms. J’s feedback. What special features, furniture, and services would you create to ensure the Heartwood is truly a five-acorn destination for creatures of all sizes?

2. The Pinecone Press sends you to write a feature story on the Heartwood one year after the wolf incident. What would your article highlight about the hotel’s evolution, its staff’s relationships, and its commitment to welcoming all guests?

3. Compose another verse to Cybele’s song on the Heartwood Hotel following her rhyme scheme and structure of four lines per stanza. What events or themes from the novel would you highlight in your lyrics?