A True Home

Examine the character of Tilly as a figure shaped by trauma, more than a simple antagonist. How does the novel use her obsession with rules and her hostility toward Mona to explore the ways fear and insecurity can manifest as prejudice?

The guide positions A True Home within the tradition of the moral fable. In what specific ways does the novel use its anthropomorphic animal characters and woodland setting to impart lessons about community, empathy, and courage, and how does it update the conventions of this genre for a modern audience?

How does the novel represent the forces of nature, such as storms, floods, winter cold, and winds? Is nature always a dangerous enemy in the story, or do the characters have a nuanced understanding of cycles of destruction and renewal? Compare and contrast Mona’s interactions with the natural elements with another character’s perspective. What do their experiences reveal about the roles of adaptation, change, and survival?

What roles do memory and the past play in how the characters understand themselves and their place in the world? Choose two characters and analyze how the past informs their identity. Is the past a source of self-affirmation or insecurity? When does the past fortify a character, and when does it hold them back?

Ms. Pickles asserts that “everyone’s heart has hurts,” and when Mona asks about Tilly’s past, she responds, “It’s not my tale to tell” (70). How does the novel depict the various types of “hurts” that different characters cope with? Choose two characters and analyze their physical and/or emotional pains. Are they visible or invisible? What motivates some characters to share their stories and others to keep their experiences private?

Analyze the narrative structure of A True Home as a series of escalating trials that systematically builds Mona’s confidence and proves her value to the community before the final climax. What does Mona learn about herself in each episode?

The novel highlights the importance of having one’s voice represented and heard, whether that be in a song or motto or through Mona’s role as an empathetic listener who acknowledges a character’s unique point of view. How does Mona develop her own voice throughout the novel? What do the other characters learn about her unique perspective?

Discuss the role of found family in Mona’s character arc. Analyze how her alliances with vulnerable or misjudged characters, such as Cybele, the Sudsburys, and Brumble, provide her with the support system necessary to transition from a solitary survivor to a community leader.