An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of addiction.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The subtitle of An Invisible Thread references “an unlikely meeting with destiny.” To what extent do you believe the meeting between Schroff and Maurice was fate versus coincidence? How convincing was the memoir’s concept of the “invisible thread” that connects certain people?

2. How did the stark contrast between Schroff’s and Maurice’s worlds, despite their living only blocks apart in New York City, affect your reading experience? What emotions did their crossing of these social boundaries evoke for you?

3. An Invisible Thread shares thematic elements with other memoirs about transformative relationships across social divides, such as Wes Moore’s The Other Wes Moore. How does Schroff’s approach to documenting her relationship with Maurice compare to similar narratives you’ve encountered?

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

1. Schroff describes how she initially learned to put up blinders to the unhoused people she encountered daily. Have you experienced similar detachment from suffering in your daily life? What has broken through those barriers for you?

2. The brown paper lunch bags with Maurice’s name take on enormous significance in the memoir. What small gestures have made you feel particularly valued or seen by others?

3. Maurice’s dream of someday having a “big table” where his family could gather becomes a powerful symbol in the book. What objects or rituals have represented family or belonging in your life?

4. Both Schroff and Maurice experienced childhoods marked by unreliable adults, albeit in different contexts. How have your own experiences with trust or stability in childhood influenced how you connected with their stories?

5. Schroff struggles with balancing her commitment to Maurice and her relationship with Michael. Have you ever faced a situation where important relationships in your life seemed at odds with one another? How did you navigate this challenge?

6. Throughout the memoir, Schroff makes promises to Maurice, Miss House, and others. What has been your experience with making significant commitments, and how have those promises shaped your relationships?

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

1. Being unhoused and child poverty are central issues in the memoir. How has the book influenced your perspective on these social problems? Has it changed how you might respond to someone asking for help?

2. The memoir unfolds against the backdrop of 1980s New York City, when the unhoused population was at an all-time high. How might this story differ if it took place in your community today? To what degree have social service systems improved? What new problems have arisen? 

3. Throughout the book, we see how addiction affects multiple generations in Maurice’s family. What insights does the memoir offer about the cyclical nature of addiction and poverty? What societal responses might help break these cycles?

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

1. The title, An Invisible Thread, refers to a Chinese proverb suggesting people who are destined to meet are connected by an invisible thread. How does this metaphor develop throughout the narrative? Which moments most powerfully illustrate this concept?

2. How does Schroff’s presentation of her own childhood parallel or contrast with her portrayal of Maurice’s experiences? What effect does this comparative structure have on your understanding of both characters?

3. Consider the role of food in the memoir, from Schroff and Maurice’s first McDonald’s lunch to cooking lessons to holiday meals. How does food function symbolically throughout the narrative?

4. The book contains several key symbols, including the bicycle, the brown paper bag lunches, and the “big table.” Which symbol resonated most strongly with you, and why do you think the author emphasized these particular objects?

5. What role does the concept of “family” play throughout the narrative? How does the definition of family evolve for both Schroff and Maurice by the end of the memoir?

6. Schroff includes significant details about her relationship with her father in a memoir ostensibly about her relationship with Maurice. How do these parallel narratives enhance or complicate your understanding of the central relationship in the book?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to create a care package for a child in circumstances similar to Maurice’s, what would you include and why? Consider both practical and emotional needs.

2. Imagine you are adapting An Invisible Thread into a film. Which scenes would you consider essential to include? Who would you cast as the main characters?

3. Schroff writes about her first time inviting Maurice to her apartment for a home-cooked meal. If you were to prepare a meaningful meal to share with someone from a vastly different background than your own, what would you prepare and why?

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