Allegedly

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of child death, racism, and mental illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The title Allegedly introduces an element of doubt from the very beginning of the novel. In what ways did this single word influence your perception of Mary’s story and her reliability as a narrator?

2. Jackson’s narrative style in Allegedly shares similarities with her other works, like Monday’s Not Coming, in which unreliable narration plays a central role. If you’ve read her other novels, how does this one compare in terms of emotional impact and storytelling approach?

3. What was your reaction to the final revelations about Mary’s role in Alyssa’s death? Did your feelings about Mary change throughout the book?

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

1. Throughout the novel, Mary clings to education as a potential path to freedom and legitimacy. Think about a time when you viewed a specific achievement as your ticket to something better. Did it fulfill that promise for you the way Mary hoped the SAT would for her?

2. Mary’s relationship with her mother involves complicated role reversals, with Mary often acting as the caretaker. Have you experienced or witnessed relationships where traditional roles were flipped? 

3. Trust becomes a fragile commodity in Allegedly, with Mary carefully choosing who to trust and when. When have you had to make similar calculations about who deserves your trust?

4. Throughout the novel, we see Mary develop various survival mechanisms in response to trauma. Have you developed or observed similar coping mechanisms in your own life or in the lives of others?

5. The quest for identity runs throughout the novel as Mary navigates how others perceive her. When have you felt labeled or defined by a single action or characteristic? How did that experience compare to Mary’s struggle to define herself beyond her alleged crime?

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

1. The conviction of a Black girl accused of killing a white baby raises important questions about racial bias in the American criminal justice system. In what ways does Jackson illustrate the impact of racial prejudice in the juvenile justice system? What parallels do you see to real-world cases?

2. Jackson depicts juvenile facilities in Allegedly that hinder rather than help rehabilitation. What commentary does the novel make about the effectiveness of detention and foster care systems in America?

3. Media representation becomes a significant issue when Mary discovers “Lifetime Set to Film the Mary Addison Story” (310). What does this plot element reveal about the exploitation of children in the justice system? What responsibility does the media have when covering cases involving minors?

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

1. The narrative structure alternates between Mary’s first-person account and fictional documents like deposition transcripts. What effect does this unique structure have on your understanding of the truth? How do these contrasting perspectives create tension in the novel?

2. Mary’s concept of “Alyssa-ing” serves as a recurring motif throughout the story. How does this mental habit reveal different aspects of Mary’s psychological state as the narrative progresses?

3. Squalor and cleanliness appear as opposing elements in the novel. What do these contrasting environments symbolize about Mary’s internal and external conflicts? How does Mary’s movement between these spaces reflect her emotional journey?

4. Herbert the fly appears early in the novel as both a character and a symbol. What does Herbert represent to Mary? 

5. Momma emerges as a complex character seen through multiple lenses. Mary’s memories, official testimonies, and present-day interactions all contribute to our understanding of her. How does Jackson build this multidimensional portrait, and what purpose does it serve in exploring the novel’s themes of truth and perception?

6. Throughout the novel, Jackson carefully controls the release of information about what happened the night Alyssa died. In what ways does this gradual revelation of details contribute to the book’s suspense? How does it shape our understanding of Mary’s character development?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The novel ends with Mary leaving for a new group home for pregnant mothers. Write an epilogue for the novel set five years later — what do you imagine for Mary, her baby, and the other key characters? 

2. Significant ambiguity remains about what actually happened the night Alyssa died. Create an alternative scenario that accounts for all the evidence presented in the book but offers a different explanation for the events of that night that Jackson does.

3. Mary’s perspective dominates the storytelling, but other viewpoints might radically change our understanding. Choose a key scene and reimagine it from another character’s point of view, perhaps Ted, Ms. Cora, or Mrs. Richardson. How would their perspective alter our perception of the events and of Mary herself?

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